Treatment outcomes of patients with low back pain due to lumbar spondylosis using shock wave therapy combined with electroacupuncture at Thuy Nguyen General Hospital, 2024 – 2025
Abstract
Objectives: To describe the clinical and radiographic characteristics of patients with low back pain due to lumbar spondylosis at the Department of Traditional Medicine and Rehabilitation, Thuy Nguyen General Hospital, during 2024–2025. Evaluation of the treatment outcomes of the electroacupuncture combined with shock wave therapy in the study group. Subjective: 60 patients diagnosed with low back pain due to lumbar spondylosis were treated at the Department of Traditional Medicine and Rehabilitation, Thuy Nguyen General Hospital, Hai Phong, from October 2024 to May 2025. According to traditional medicine, the patients were diagnosed with lumbago patterns including wind-cold-damp syndrome, kidney deficiency syndrome, and a combination of wind-cold-damp with liver-kidney deficiency. Method: Descriptive case series. Results: The average age in the study group was 58.57 ± 12.78 years, with the highest prevalence observed in the 61–80 age group. The female-to-male ratio was 58.3% to 41.7%. Among the patients, 50% were overweight or had class I obesity. The combination therapy of electroacupuncture and shockwave demonstrated effectiveness in patients with low back pain due to lumbar spondylosis. Specifically, the mean reduction in VAS pain score after treatment was 3.12 ± 1.12 points. Lumbar spine flexion increased by 16.5 ± 7.15 degrees, extension increased by 11.92 ± 5.61 degrees, lumbar mobility improved by 1.72 ± 0.74 cm, and the fingertip-to-floor distance decreased by 12.48 ± 6.41 cm. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score improved by 23.00 ± 11.11 points following treatment. This therapeutic approach was also found to be safe for patients. Conclusion: The combined application of electroacupuncture and shockwave therapy is effective in the management of lumbar spondylosis, with notable benefits in pain relief and enhancement of spinal mobility.