Pain Reduction and Posture Alignment Improvement in Older Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Novel Approach Using Spinal Thermal Massage Bed and Calf Pneumatic Cell Compression

BACKGROUND: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) significantly affects the well-being of older adults, leading to diminished quality of life and heightened stress. Existing treatments have limited effectiveness and potential side effects. This study aimed to explore an integrative approach, employing a combination of spinal thermal massage bed (STMB) and intermittent pneumatic calf compression, as an alternative strategy for managing CLBP, improving body posture, reducing stress, and enhancing quality of life. MATERIAL/METHODS: Twenty-three participants aged 65–80 years completed a 4-week intervention involving eight sessions (2 per week) with the STMB device. Outcome measures included pain level assessed by the visual analog scale, trunk and pelvic tilting angles indicating spine curvature, stress level of the autonomic nervous system, Oswestry Disability Index, and EuroQol five-dimensions QoL questionnaire. RESULTS: The study revealed significant reductions in pain intensity between baseline and mid-term scores (p=0.002) and between baseline and post-test scores (p=0.001). Moreover, notable improvements were observed in trunk and pelvic tilting angles (p<0.001) and stress scores between baseline and mid-term scores (p=0.037) and between baseline and post-test scores (p=0.019). However, no significant changes were observed in disability level or QoL. Participants expressed high satisfaction with the intervention, and no serious side effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides compelling evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of combining STMB with intermittent pneumatic calf compression in reducing pain intensity and stress levels and improving trunk and pelvic tilting angles. Clinical trial number: KCT0008212.