INTRODUCTION: Traction therapy as a method for treatment of the spinal diseases has been known to mankind since Hippocrates. Its abilities to target the main symptoms in patients with lumbar disc disease are still an object of discussion.
AIM: To analyze the effect of intermittent traction therapy in targeting pain syndrome and the psycho-emotional state of the patients with lumbar disc disease.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 122 patients suffering from lumbar disc disease were examined and 100 of them corresponded to the criteria and took part in the research. The control group (CG) included 50 patients, treated with basic therapy low-frequency electromagnetic field (LFMF) and interferential therapy - bipolar technique (BPI). The experimental group (EG) included 50 patients treated with basic therapy and intermittent traction therapy. To track the effects of the treatment, we used an evaluation of the static and dynamic pain, an evaluation of the psycho-emotional state through the WAM (well-being, activity, mood) test, done before, right after and at the end of the treatment as well as 1 and 3 months after the treatment.
RESULTS: Both methodologies have a pain-reducing effect and help the improvement of the psycho-emotional state of the patients. The results have a high statistical importance (p<0.001) for both groups when it comes to reduction of the pain syndrome and the indicators of the psycho-functional testing. When comparing EG and CG the difference is also statistically significant (p<0.001) with the EG being superior.
CONCLUSION: Traction therapy, conducted following all rules of the good medical practice is well tolerated by the patients suffering from lumbar disc disease and contributes to the improvement of their psycho-emotional state.
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