The effect of exercise therapy, dry needling, and nonfunctional electrical stimulation on radicular pain: a case report

A 43-year-old male, office worker with history of chronic radicular low back pain radiating into the left leg was admitted to a sports medicine research center, neuroscience institute. During the past year, he visited a physiotherapist and orthopedic experts. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a protruded disc at L4–5 level. Additionally, electromyography indicated that there was bilateral moderate irritation at the L5–S1 root. We designed a management package including exercise therapy, dry needling, and nonfunctional electrical stimulation for four sessions. Outcomes included pain intensity, pain with lumbar flexion, with the numerical rating scale (NRS), visual analogue scale (VAS), and function measured with the Oswestry Disability Index before and after the intervention. After 4 treatment sessions, the patient reported a reduction in pain intensity from a 9 to 2 on the NRS and from 90 to 30 on the VAS. In addition, the patient was able to perform lumbar flexion fully without pain.