BACKGROUND: Considering the high prevalence and social significance of musculoskeletal nonspecific lower back pain, the use of innovative non-drug rehabilitation methods, in particular, interval hypoxia-hyperoxytherapy, is relevant.
AIM: to evaluate the efficiency of the interval hypoxia-hyperoxytherapy in the complex medical rehabilitation of patients with musculoskeletal nonspecific lower back pain.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: 62 patients (35 males and 27 females, aged from 34 to 63 years) with musculoskeletal nonspecific lower back pain were included in a randomized placebo-controlled study. All patients were randomized into 2 groups. 34 study group patients received 10 procedures of hypoxia-hyperoxytherapy, 28 comparison group patients – 10 placebo procedures of breathing therapy. The patients of all groups underwent 2-week standard rehabilitation program: 10 procedures of low-intensity laser therapy and low-frequency electrostatic therapy, 10 group sessions of physical exercises. The study group patients were breathing hypoxic (FiO2 13–15%) and hyperoxic (FiO2 up to 40%) gas mixture through the mask in the interval mode using device «ReOxy». The duration of 1–4 procedures was 30 min, 5–10 procedures – 40 min. The placebo procedures were performed using the mask with the atmospheric air hole. Rehabilitation diagnosis by domains b28013, b7303, b7600, d4500 of «International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health» (ICF), back pain and general health on 100-mm visual analog scale, Lequesne index, 10-meters walking test, Spielberger-Khanin reactive anxiety test, Beck depression inventory were evaluated at baseline and at 2 weeks.
RESULTS: After 2 weeks the values of the qualifiers of ICF domains significantly improved in the study group, back pain decreased by на 65.2% (р0.01), Lequesne index – by76.1% (р0.01), 10-meters walking test – by 42.4% (р0.05), reactive anxiety level – by 50.5% (р0.01), depression symptoms – by 69.7% (р0.01), general health improved by 71.2% (р0.01), with statistically significant differences from the comparison group in all parameters (р0.05).
CONCLUSION: 2-week rehabilitation program, including interval hypoxia-hyperoxytherapy, reduces back pain, improves rehabilitation diagnosis by ICF, general health, functional status and psychoemotional state in patients with musculoskeletal nonspecific lower back pain.