Efficacy and safety of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy during early postoperative rehabilitation period following microdiscectomy

Background. The considerable number of surgical interventions for the treatment of discogenic lumbosacral radiculopathy

(LSR) highlights the importance of optimizing complex post-surgical rehabilitation programs, particularly those incorporating innovative physiotherapeutic techniques. One of the modern and safe methods in physiotherapeutic rehabilitation is repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS).

Objective: to evaluate the efficacy of a rehabilitation therapy that includes rPMS for patients with LSR during the early postoperative rehabilitation period following microdiscectomy.

Material and methods. A prospective randomized comparative study involved 71 patients with LSR following microdiscectomy. On postoperative Day 7, the patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group 1 (n=35) received a course of rPMS in addition to the standard rehabilitation therapy, while Group 2 (n=36) received only the standard treatment. Pain intensity was assessed using the visual analog scale, anxiety was evaluated using the state-trait anxiety inventory, and health-related quality of life was measured with the EuroQol-5D questionnaire.

Results. On Day 21 of rehabilitation, a statistically significant difference (p=0.036) in pain intensity in the lower limb was observed between the two groups. In addition, a statistically significant difference (p=0.042) was revealed in the frequency distribution of trait anxiety severity. A statistically significant improvement in the frequency distribution of self-care level was observed in Group 1 between Days 7 and 21 (p<0.05).

Conclusion. The clinical effects observed in terms of the regression of pain, improved sensory function, and psychological wellbeing were more pronounced in the group receiving rPMS. These findings suggest that rPMS incorporated into postoperative rehabilitation programs may serve as a valuable tool for enhancing patient recovery.

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