ROLE OF EXTRACORPOREAL MAGNETOTRANSDUCTION THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH LOW BACK PAIN

F.P. Fabrazzo¹, A. Scala¹, M. Paoletta², S. Liguori¹, A. Moretti¹, F. Gimigliano², G. Iolascon¹ | ¹Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties and Dentistry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples; ²Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples

Low back pain (LBP) is a painful condition localized in the posterior region of the trunk between the lower border of the 12th rib and the gluteal fold. LBP has a significant impact on social health, especially in industrialized countries, with over half a billion people are affected globally, representing the leading cause of years lived with disability¹. Conservative treatment includes therapeutic exercise combined with physical therapies. Among these, Extracorporeal Magnetotransduction Therapy (EMTT) is a novel modality used for musculoskeletal disorders such as LBP, osteoarthritis, and sports injuries. EMTT modulates membrane potential, promotes Ca++influx, activates calmodulin with NO release, and stimulates growth factors, leading to tissue regeneration, neovascularization, and analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects². However, its effects on LBP remain under-investigated³. This study compared classical rehabilitation protocol—based solely on therapeutic exercise-with a second protocol that integrates EMTT (using the Magnetolith device) alongside therapeutic exercise in patients with LBP in terms of pain, mobility, muscle performance, and the level of autonomy in daily living activities. Thirty-seven patients (29F;8M), with a mean age of 67.2±11.2 years and diagnosed with LBP, were selected. Treatment allocation followed simple randomization (1:1ratio). The assessments were conducted at baseline(T0) and after two weeks (T1). The study group (SG,16patients) underwent a therapeutic exercise protocol five times/week: 45minutes of exercise and 15minutes of EMTT, for a total of 10 sessions. The EMTT treatment protocol included 4000pulses, frequency of 6/8Hz, intensity of 7/8 Tesla according to medical decision. The control group (CG,21patients) performed 60 minutes of therapeutic exercises: stretching of the posterior kinetic chains, hip flexor stretching (in lumbar hyperlordosis), muscle strengthening (core stability, gluteus maximus and medius, spinal erectors, oblique abdominals, quadratus lumborum), motor control, proprioceptive exercises, functional activities and patient education⁴. Evaluations included pain (algometer, kg/cm2), low back disability (Oswestry Disability Index, ODI), fingertip-to-floor distance and quality of life (EuroQol-5 Dimension, EQ-5D). Results between T0 and T1 were compared using a non-parametric test, the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test(within-group) and the Mann-Whitney U Test(between-group). A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Clinically significant improvement were observed in both group: ODI (SG:T0 34.7±10.1 T1 14±8.8;CG:T0 34.9±17.4 T1 18.3±11.0), EQ-5D(SG:T0 0.4±0.09,T1 0.6±0.2; CG:T0 0.4±0.1,T1 0.6±0.2), fingertip-to-floor distance (SG:T0 11.4±7.0,T1 8.3±9.2; CG:T0 10.6±1,T1 7.1±1.6),and pain(SG:T0 3.9±1.9,T1 9.6±3.4; CG:T0 3.6 ±1.1,T1 5.6±1). Intergroup analysis showed a significant advantage for SG in algometer-measured pain at T1 (9.6±3.4vs5.6±1.02, p<0.000). Our data highlight greater pain improvement in patients receiving EMTT, suggesting promising efficacy for EMTT in LBP treatment.