Evaluation of a Persian Medicine Based Manipulation on Chronic Radicular Low Back Pain

Bahman  Rokhafrooz; Roshanak  Mokaberinejad; Aliakbar  Hasanzadeh; Mohamad Kazem  Emami Meibodi; Sajjad  Sadeghi

doi:10.18502/tim.v10i4.20726

Bahman Rokhafrooz Traditional Medicine and Materia Medica Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Roshanak Mokaberinejad Traditional Medicine and Materia Medica Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Aliakbar Hasanzadeh Traditional Medicine and Materia Medica Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohamad Kazem Emami Meibodi Trauma Research Center and Orthopedic Department, Baqiyatallah Medical University, Tehran, Iran
Sajjad Sadeghi Traditional Medicine and Materia Medica Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/tim.v10i4.20726

Keywords: Ghamz therapy; Persian medicine; Iranian traditional medicine; Low back pain; Sciatica

Abstract

A manual therapy rooted in Persian Medicine known as "ghamz therapy" involves applying pressure to specific soft tissues within the musculoskeletal system to alleviate myofascial spasms. This study aimed to evaluate its effectiveness in reducing pain and disability in patients with lower back pain radiating to their lower limbs. This study is a quasi-experimental pilot investigation that explores the effects of ghamz therapy on patients with chronic radicular low back pain. Participants underwent treatment across three sessions on days 0 (Visit 1), 7 (Visit 2), and 30 (Visit 3). Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), along with the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire and the fingertip-to-floor test, at each session. Additionally, follow-up assessments of VAS and disability scores were conducted over two months post-intervention. The study involved 12 participants with low back pain, who reported an average pain level of 5.83 on the VAS initially, which decreased to 1.24 by the third visit. Lower limb pain also significantly diminished from 6.08 to 1.58. The average disability score improved from 10.42 to 3.33, and all outcomes remained stable during follow-up, with no significant increases in pain or disability. The fingertip-to-floor test showed significant improvement, with measurements going from 5.63 cm to 0.08 cm. In conclusion, Ghamz therapy has the potential to alleviate pain and disability in patients with low back pain radiating to the lower limbs. However, controlled clinical trials with larger sample sizes are necessary to evaluate the efficacy of this manual technique.