Effects of Repetitive Peripheral Magnetic Stimulation on Patients With Acute Low Back Pain: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of real repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) treatment compared to sham rPMS treatment on pain reduction and functional recovery of patients with acute low back pain. METHODS: A total of 26 patients with acute low back pain were randomly allocated to the real rPMS group and the sham rPMS group. Subjects were then administered a total of 10 treatment sessions. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was assessed before and after each session. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) were employed to assess functional recovery at baseline and after sessions 5 and 10. RESULTS: Real rPMS treatment showed significant pain reduction immediately after each session. Sustained and significant pain relief was observed after administering only one session in the real rPMS group. Significant functional improvement was observed in the real rPMS group compared to that in the sham rPMS group after sessions 5 and 10 based on ODI and after session 5 based on RMDQ. CONCLUSION: Real rPMS treatment has immediate effect on pain reduction and sustained effect on pain relief for patients with acute low back pain compared to sham rPMS.