Effectiveness of Hydrogalvanic Bath on Improving Pain, Disability, and Quality of Life in Individuals with Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background. Neck pain is one of the world’s leading factors in years lived with disability. Ambiguity in the effect of electrotherapy modalities for the treatment of chronic nonspecific neck pains (CNSNP) needs to be examined further. This study sought to elucidate the effectiveness of hydrogalvanic bath on improving pain, disability, and quality of life among individuals with CNSNP. Methods. Thirty-four individuals with a diagnosis of CNSNP were selected through convenient sampling and randomly divided into two groups by block randomization. The control group treatment underwent low Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and exercise, and the experimental group was subjected to hydrogalvanic bath therapy (HGBT) and exercise. Individuals were evaluated for pain using a visual analog scale (VAS), disability with the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and quality of life with Short Form-36 (SF-36). These measures were applied at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment. Results. The pretreatment and posttreatment results for VAS, NDI, and SF-36 were compared for both control and experimental groups. We found that all the three variables showed significant differences between the two time points with p < 0.05 in both the groups but the experimental group improvements were more significant than the control group with p < 0.05 . Conclusion. Twelve weeks of low TENS or HGBT along with exercises can decrease pain and neck disability and increase the quality of life in individuals with CNSNP. However, HGBT along with exercise has superior effects relative to low TENS along with exercise. This randomized controlled trial was registered in the International Standard Randomized Controlled Trials Number-ISRCTN29695190 and registered on 05/02/2020. This study is a retrospective registration.

Cervical Joint Position Sense and Its Correlations with Postural Stability in Subjects with Fibromyalgia Syndrome

“…Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic and long-term disorder characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, stiffness, cognitive decline, poor sleep, and psychosocial disabilities [1,2]. All of these complicated symptoms have a negative impact on quality of life, as well as on social and occupational functioning [3,4]. FMS is a prevalent problem that disproportionately affects women [5].…”

Mediation Effect of Pain on the Relationship between Kinesiophobia and Postural Control: Comparison and Correlations in Individuals with Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Asymptomatic Individuals—A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) presents with widespread musculoskeletal complaints, such as pain, fatigue, stiffness, a sense of insufficient sleep, poor physical fitness, and psychological illnesses [ 1 , 2 ]. These factors can significantly impact individuals with FM, leading to increased disability and a decreased quality of life [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Worldwide, FM prevalence is 2–7%, and around 60% of people with fibromyalgia are females [ 6 ].…”

“…Worldwide, FM prevalence is 2–7%, and around 60% of people with fibromyalgia are females [ 6 ]. Consequently, it has been a leading cause of rheumatologist visits in the last two decades as a primary condition and comorbidity [ 5 ]. Although the pathogenesis of FM is idiopathic, past research indicates that central sensitization processes play significant roles in symptom onset and chronic persistence [ 7 , 8 ].…”