BACKGROUND: Chronic low back pain lasts longer than 12 weeks and is characterised by pain, muscle weakness, reduced functional ability and psychosocial burden. AIM: To compare the effects of two physical modalities, high-intensity laser against ultrasound therapy in the treatment of patients with chronic low back pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective, monocentric, controlled clinical study comprising a group of 54 patients at the age between 25 and 65 years. Patients were divided into two groups: examined group of 27 patients (high-intensity laser and exercises) and a control group of 27 patients (ultrasound therapy and exercises). The results were evaluated by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Oswestry Disability Index and Schober’s test. Clinical findings were evaluated at the same time points for all patients, before treatment, at two weeks and three months following treatment. Statistical analyses were made to compare the differences between the results obtained on admission and the two consecutive control check-ups. Statistical significance was defined as a P value < 0.05. RESULTS: The examined group showed statistically significantly better results than the control group after completion of the treatment (at two weeks) and at follow up after three months. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that patient with chronic low back pain treated with a high-intensity laser has significantly reduced low back pain, reduced disability and improved range of motion. Its positive effect maintained for three months. It seems to be an effective, safe and useful physical modality in the treatment of a patient with chronic low back pain.

Osteoarthritis is a rheumatic disease characterized by degeneration and decay of cartilage in the joints. As the disease worsens, the joint space narrows causing numbness and pain, which often impairs movement. In addition to pharmacological therapy, low-intensity laser (LILT), high-intensity laser (HILT) and exercise are used to treat osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. HILT is a new modality in our country and the experience from its application is small, especially in the treatment of OA of the knee. Aim of the paper was to compare the effect of HILT with LILT in the treatment of OA of the knee. Material and methods: This was a randomized comparative unilateral blind study involving 72 patients divided into two groups. The first group was treated with HILT, the second group treated with LILT. Outcome measure was the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, which was made on the first and tenth day of treatment. Statistical significance was defined as p <0.05. Results: We found a significant difference between the two groups in terms of VAS score after 10 therapies  in favor to a significantly lower score, that is, less pain in the HILT group (p = 0.0035). The comparison of the VAS score between the two times in the two groups separately showed that in both, the HILT and the LILT groups, the VAS score after 10 days of therapy was significantly lower compared to thatat 0 time, for consequently p = 0.00001vsp = 0.00001. Conclusion: Treatment with HILT and LILT significantly reduces pain and stiffness in patients with OA. Patients treated with HILT had better results, i.e., had a significant reduction in pain than patients treated with LILT. HILT was more effective than LILT.

BACKGROUND:Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a pathological state resulting from repetitive loading or stress on the tendon. The article aims to evaluate the effects of the low - energy radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy (RESWT) in the treatment of the adult with chronic insertional Achilles tendinopathy (AT) after the unsuccessful conservative treatment, with 18 months follow - up evaluation.CASE REPORT:We report the case of a 55 years - old male suffering from severe right posterior heel pain for 4 months. For his chronic insertional Achilles tendinopathy on the right heel, he received conservative treatment in the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. For outcome assessment, Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for pain, the range of motion in the ankle, and Roles-Maudsley Score (RMS) for assessment of function were used. At the baseline the pain was severe, and he received physical therapy treatment. After unsuccessful conservative treatment, he underwent RESWT treatment. Numeric Rating Scale was significantly decreased at immediate, short-term and long-term follow-up. After the last treatment, the patient had no pain, and function assessed by Roles-Maudsley Score was excellent. At the follow-up check-up at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months the patient had no pain and excellent functional results.CONCLUSION:Radial ESWT is a safe and effective treatment even for a longer period for patients with chronic insertional Achilles tendinopathy.

Urinary incontinence is the inability to control urination with spectrum of disturbances from periodical urinary leaks to complete inability to retain urine. It occurs more often in elderly and in women. Urinary incontinence has a great impact on general health and may reduce the quality of life. There are several types: stress urinary incontinence, urgent urinary incontinence, neurogenic urinary incontinence, overflow urinary incontinence. Stress urinary incontinence is the most frequent one and is due to pelvic floor muscle weakness. For assessment and treatment of these patients the individual approach is warranted. The treatment of these patients includes medications, behavioral therapy, biofeedback, pelvic floor muscle training, electrical stimulation, magnetic stimulation and surgery. Non-surgical treatment might be effective to prevent surgery. Rehabilitation treatment with pelvic floor exercises and physical modalities for patients with urinary incontinence is important for recovery of the urinary continence and improvement of quality of life in these patients.