Exercise Therapy After Caudal Epidural Steroid Injection

Standard physical-agent package delivered three times weekly for 6 weeks: 20 min moist hot-pack (≈70 °C hydrocollator packs); 5 min continuous therapeutic ultrasound (1 MHz, 1 W cm-²); 20 min biphasic TENS (100 Hz, 100 µs). Initiated 2 weeks after the caudal epidural steroid injection (CESI).

Supervised treadmill walking three times weekly for 6 weeks: 5 min warm-up at \~40 % HR\<sub\>max\</sub\>; 10-25 min load at 55-80 % HR\<sub\>max\</sub\> (5 % weekly progression); 5 min cool-down. Heart-rate telemetry and Borg CR-10 used to titrate intensity. Starts 2 weeks post-CESI.

Phased lumbopelvic motor-control regimen three times weekly for 6 weeks: Phase I isolated transversus abdominis/multifidus activation with pressure biofeedback; Phase II functional co-contraction with limb movements in quadruped, sitting, standing; Phase III dynamic tasks on Swiss-ball/BOSU with resistance. Progression requires pain ≤ 3/10 VAS and flawless technique. Begins 2 weeks post-CESI.