Back pain in osteopenia and osteoporosis cases – a challenge in general practice
General Medicine, 2023, 25(6), 8-12.
M. Mihaylova1, Z. Ruseva2
1 Department of Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation and Thalassotherapy, Medical University ‒ Varna
2 Department of General Medicine, Medical University ‒ Varna
Abstract. Introduction: Back pain is a symptom that accompanies the decrease in bone mineral density and the development of osteopenia and osteoporosis. This is also one of the common complaints in general medical practice in patients over 55 years of age. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of medication and physical analgesia in patients with back and low back pain caused by osteopenia and osteoporosis. Materials and methodology: The subjects of the study were 87 patients with back pain (n = 87, age 62.6 ± 0.98 years), divided into three groups: group 1 (n = 29) treated with NSAIDs for 10 days, group 2 (n = 29) treated with LFMF (low frequency magnetic field), irradiation with the Bioptran device (PPNS) and kinesitherapy – 10 days, and group 3 (n = 29) a combination of the applied therapy of the 1st and 2nd groups. To monitor the effectiveness of the treatment the following was used: assessment of pain by VAS and assessment of quality of life by the Roland-Morris test, tracked at the beginning, on the 5th day, at the end of the treatment and after 1 month. Results: Statistically significant results (p < 0.05) were achieved in all groups in terms of pain relief and quality of life. Medicinal analgesia occurs the earliest, but has the least impact, physical analgesia occurs later, but because of its cumulative effect is preserved for a longer time, the most long-lasting is the result of group 3, where at the beginning, the pain is suppressed by the medication, and at a later stage physical analgesia is included and prolongs the effectiveness of the therapy. Conclusion: Physical analgesia complements and enhances the effect of analgesic drug therapy and contributes to improving the quality of life of patients with osteoporosis.
Key words: osteopenia, osteoporosis, back and low back pain, physical therapy, drug therapy
Address for correspondence: Mariyana Mihaylova, e-mail: m.mihailova96@abv.bg