THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LASER ACUPUNCTURE COMBINED WITH ACUPRESSURE MASSAGE IN PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM LOW BACK PAIN DUE TO SPONDYLOSIS

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of laser acupuncture (LA) combined with acupressure massage in treating low back pain, focusing on pain intensity, functional disability, and lumbar range of motion. Methods: An uncontrolled, randomized, clinical trial was conducted to compare the effectiveness before and after treatment in 30 volunteered patients aged ≥ 38 diagnosed with low back pain due to spondylosis, regardless of gender or occupation, at the Traditional Medicine Department, Military Hospital 103. Results: Combining the LA method with acupressure massage showed good effectiveness, with a success rate of 96.7%. The pain level, according to the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), improved significantly after 14 days of treatment, decreasing from an average of 5.4 ± 1.886 to 1.17 ± 1.234 (p < 0.05). The lumbar spine expansion and daily activity limitation measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) significantly improved. Conclusion: The treating method using LA combined with acupressure massage has been proven to be an efficient adjunct therapy in treating low back pain due to spondylosis.