Matrix Rhythm Therapy Versus Interferential Therapy Combined with Lumbar Stabilization Exercises in Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Comparative Trial

Background: Chronic non-specific low back pain is a persistent musculoskeletal condition associated with pain, disability, impaired movement confidence, and reduced participation in daily life. Lumbar stabilization exercises are widely used in rehabilitation; however, the added value of different adjunct modalities remains uncertain.

Objective: To compare the effects of Matrix Rhythm Therapy and Interferential Therapy, each combined with lumbar stabilization exercises, on pain intensity, disability, and multidimensional pain perception in individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain.

Methods: Thirty participants with chronic non-specific low back pain were allocated to Matrix Rhythm Therapy plus lumbar stabilization exercises (MRT + LSE; n=15) or Interferential Therapy plus lumbar stabilization exercises (IFT + LSE; n=15). Interventions were delivered three times weekly for six weeks. Outcomes included the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and McGill Pain Questionnaire, assessed at baseline and after intervention.

Results: Both groups improved after treatment. The MRT + LSE group showed larger mean reductions in NPRS (5.13 points), ODI (28.80 points), and McGill Pain Questionnaire scores (29.86 points) than the IFT + LSE group, which improved by 2.33, 18.00, and 17.27 points, respectively. Summary-based between-group analyses favored MRT + LSE for NPRS, ODI, and McGill outcomes.

Conclusion: Both interventions were associated with reductions in pain and disability; however, Matrix Rhythm Therapy combined with lumbar stabilization exercises produced greater improvements across all reported outcomes. Larger trials with corrected demographic reporting, allocation concealment, assessor blinding, and long-term follow-up are needed to confirm these findings.

Chronic low back pain; Matrix Rhythm Therapy; Interferential Therapy; Lumbar stabilization; Physiotherapy; Rehabilitation

1. Vos T, Lim SS, Abbafati C, Abbas KM, Abbasi M, Abbasifard M, et al. Global burden of low back pain, 1990-2020: systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. Lancet. 2020;396(10249):1204-1222. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Airaksinen O, Brox JI, Cedraschi C, Hildebrandt J, Klaber-Moffett J, Kovacs F, et al. European guidelines for the management of chronic nonspecific low back pain. Eur Spine J. 2006;15(Suppl 2):S192-S300. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Deyo RA, Weinstein JN. Low back pain. N Engl J Med. 2001;344(5):363-370. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Vlaeyen JWS, Linton SJ. Fear-avoidance model of chronic musculoskeletal pain: 12 years on. Pain. 2012;153(6):1144-1147. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Delitto A, George SZ, Van Dillen L, Whitman JM, Sowa G, Shekelle P, et al. Low back pain clinical practice guidelines. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2012;42(4):A1-A57. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Akuthota V, Nadler SF. Core strengthening. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2004;85(3 Suppl 1):S86-S92. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Richardson CA, Hodges PW, Hides JA. Therapeutic Exercise for Lumbopelvic Stabilization. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 2004. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Fuentes JP, Armijo-Olivo S, Funabashi M, Miciak M, Dick B, Warren S, et al. Effectiveness of interferential current therapy in musculoskeletal pain. Phys Ther. 2010;90(9):1219-1238. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Melzack R, Wall PD. Pain mechanisms: a new theory. Science. 1965;150(3699):971-979. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Gohil DM, Kothari D, Baxi G, Palekar T. Comparison of matrix rhythm therapy versus Pilates on pain, lumbar flexibility, functional impairments, and pelvic inclination in chronic low back pain. Med J Dr DY Patil Vidyapeeth. 2023;16(Suppl 1):S126-S131. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Özcan NT, Calik BB, Kabul EG. The effectiveness of matrix rhythm therapy in patients with chronic low back pain. Spine. 2021;46(12):781-787. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Zuo C, Zheng Z, Ma X, Wei F, Wang Y, Yin Y, et al. Efficacy of core muscle exercise combined with interferential therapy in alleviating chronic low back pain in high-performance fighter pilots: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health. 2024;24:700. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Almeida N, Paladini LH, Korelo RG, Liebano RE, de Macedo ACB. Immediate effects of the combination of interferential therapy parameters on chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Pain Pract. 2020;20(6):615-625. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Bhadauria EA, Gurudut P. Comparative effectiveness of lumbar stabilization, dynamic strengthening and Pilates exercises in chronic low back pain. Int J Physiother. 2017;4(2):70-76. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Enhancing Formation Control of Multi Agent Systems Using Ann Based Technique
• Improving Sliding Mode Control with Chattering Reduction using Fuzzy Based Technique
• Cooking Quality, Fasting Blood Glucose, Glycemic Index and Load of High–Fiber Noodles Made from Wheat, Tiger Nut Residue and Cassava Flour Blends
• Formulation and Sensory Evaluation of Functional Cake Prepared from Sweet Potato Powder
• Predicting Diabetes Risk using Anomaly-Based Modeling of Physiological and Lifestyle Data.