DO PEL OIDS HA VE A ROLE IN THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC NON-SPECI FIC LOW BACK PAIN

Introduction.Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) is a type of pain that cannot be associated with a specific pathology and is likely to have a mechanical cause.Mineral mud (MM) is a form of peloids used for therapeutic purposes.The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of standard kinesiotherapy and hydrotherapy for chronic NSLBP patients, treated with and without peloid therapy.Patients and methods.In this prospective randomized study, 64 patients were included: 33 received standard kinesiotherapy treatment and hydrotherapy five times a week, while 31 received additional MM therapy three times a week, instead of hydrotherapy, for three weeks.Measurements included Thomayer's distance test, sagittal mobility (Schober's test), bilateral lateroflexion, and indices such as the Rolland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), the Clinical Functioning Information Tool (ClinFit), the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS 21), the EuroQol-5 Dimensions-5 Levels (EQ-5D-5L) quality of life questionnaires, and the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain.Paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used depending on the data's normality distribution.Delta changes were examined using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) in order to assess the effects of treatment type, age, and sex of patients, along with the correlation analyses.Significance was set at p<0.05.Results.Overall, all measurements significantly improved after therapy, as indicated by paired tests.Univariate analyses showed treatment type to be associated with lateroflexion (p<0.05),sex with Schober's test (p<0.05),and age with VAS pain (p<0.05).Multivariate analyses revealed a significant difference in delta changes for Thomayer's test (p<0.01),left lateroflexion (p<0.01), and RMDQ (p=0.01), with greater improvement in the group receiving additional peloid therapy compared to the standard therapy group.Pain reduction (VAS pain) was significantly greater in patients under 55 years of age compared to those over 55 (p=0.03).Correlation tests showed the expected improvements in patient status.Conclusion.Additional treatment with MM instead of standard kinesiotherapy and hydrotherapy leads to significantly increased mobility and improved daily functioning in patients with chronic NSLBP.