Effects of Low Level Laser Therapy With and Without Proprioceptive Stimulation on Somatosensation, Pain And Gait Parameters in Patients With Discogenic Lumbar Radiculopathy

Lumbar disc prolapse occurs when disc material, that is, nucleus pulposus or annulus fibrosis comes out of the intervertebral disc space. The ruptured nucleus interacts with the nearby surrounding nerves, resulting in their compression that in turn causes severe radicular pain. Lumbar disc prolapse is considered as a hallmark of low back pain (LBP). Typically, the pain is distributed bilaterally at the posterior beltline with a sharp, shooting pain running down to the low back, buttocks, and down the thigh along with numbness or tingling sensations. One of the major risk factors for low back pain is lumbar disc prolapse. The prevalence of disc prolapse in lumbar region is 90% (L4-L5 or L5-S1). Low back pain due to disc prolapse is generally self-limiting and of shorter duration

A double blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2022 by Ishaq et al. on 110 patients to determine the effectiveness of Low-Level Laser Therapy in Patients with Discogenic Lumbar Radiculopathy and correlation among pain intensity, functional disability, and lumbar range of motion (LROM). The outcomes of the treatment were measured on the first day and then after 18 sessions from each patient's pain intensity, functional disability, L-ROM, and straight leg raise by using visual analogue scale, Oswestry disability index, dual inclinometer, and straight leg raise tests. Experimental group of 55 patients was treated with LLLT and conventional physical therapy while the control group of 55 patients was treated with conventional physical therapy alone. They concluded that LLLT is an efficient adjunct therapy to conventional physical therapy in patients of discogenic lumbar radiculopathy

In the reviewed literature, there seems to be a lack in establishing the effects of low-level laser therapy when combined with proprioceptive stimulation. Discogenic lumbar radiculopathy is very common due to an increased workload, increased number of road traffic accidents, poor postures and socioeconomic status, deficient medical or rehab services, and so on. Thus, there is need to conduct a research to determine the effects of low level laser therapy when combined with proprioceptive stimulation in improving patient's functional status, pain and gait issues.