The Effect of High-power Laser Therapy on Pain, Functional Disability, Range of Motion and Pressure Pain Threshold in Subjects With Radicular Low Back Pain Due to Intervertebral Disc Herniation

The subject will receive high-intensity laser therapy in a prone position with a cushion under the abdomen and eye protection. The laser scanner, 50 cm from the skin, will target the area from the 12th ribs to the upper iliac crest, 4.2 cm lateral to the spine. The sciatic, tibial, and peroneal nerves will also be irradiated. A GaAlAs laser device will be used, with a power of 1.6 watts and a wavelength of 808nm. The initial dose will be 10 joules/cm², with an increment of 2 joules after every three sessions. The final dose will be 16 joules/cm².

Motor control exercise is defined as an exercise to increase control and coordination of the spine and pelvis. Normally, Motor control exercise increases the weak deep trunk muscles, such as transversus abdominis and multifidus, and reduces the overactive large external trunk muscles, such as rectus abdominal and erector spinae muscles. . All subjects participate in a foundational treatment regimen involving motor control exercises: isolated and combined contractions of the transverse abdominis and multifidus muscles in various positions. Contractions will initially be performed up to a maximum of 10 repetitions per movement, with each contraction sustained for a duration of 10 seconds. Commencing from the third week, the subject should be capable of comfortably executing 10 repetitions, sustaining the contraction for 10 seconds, and progressively increasing the intensity.