Effectiveness of monopolar diathermy by radiofrequency combined with exercise in patients with chronic low back pain: A randomized clinical trial.

This article focuses on a randomized single-blind controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of combining monopolar dielectric diathermy radiofrequency (MDR) with supervised therapeutic exercise versus supervised therapeutic exercise alone in treating chronic low back pain (CLBP). Sixty patients with CLBP were assigned to either receive eight sessions of MDR plus exercise or exercise alone over four weeks, with outcomes measured at baseline, post-treatment, and 12 weeks. The study found that the MDR plus exercise group showed significantly greater and longer-lasting improvements in pain intensity, disability, kinesiophobia (fear of movement), isometric trunk flexor endurance, lumbar mobility, and several quality of life domains compared to exercise alone. However, no clinically significant changes were observed in sleep quality or emotional distress. The findings suggest that adding MDR to therapeutic exercise may enhance treatment outcomes for CLBP, though longer-term studies and placebo-controlled trials are recommended for further validation.