physiotherapy in emergency department for acute lumbar spasm

Conditions: Acute Low Back Pain; Musculoskeletal Pain; Emergency Care

Summary: this retrospective observational study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions-such as manual therapy, electrotherapy (tens), and individualized exercise programs-in managing acute lumbar spasm in patients presenting to the emergency department. by analyzing medical records from january to june 2024 at düzce university faculty of medicine, the study will compare outcomes between patients receiving only pharmacological treatment and those receiving additional physiotherapy. primary outcomes include changes in pain levels (measured by visual analog scale), medication usage, patient satisfaction, and re-admission rates within an 8-week follow-up period. the findings aim to inform the integration of physiotherapy into emergency care protocols for acute lumbar spasm.

this retrospective observational study investigates the role of physiotherapy in managing acute lumbar spasm in emergency department settings. the study will review medical records of 100 patients aged 18 to 65 who presented to düzce university faculty of medicine emergency department between january and june 2024 with non-specific acute low back spasm. patients will be divided into two groups based on documented treatment: (1) those receiving pharmacological treatment only, and (2) those receiving both pharmacological and physiotherapy interventions. physiotherapy interventions include spinal mobilization, myofascial release, tens (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), and individualized exercise protocols. primary outcomes include changes in pain intensity (measured by visual analog scale), medication consumption, re-admission rates within 8 weeks, and overall patient satisfaction. the study also incorporates a cost analysis based on national reimbursement tariffs (sut) to evaluate the financial impact of integrating physiotherapy into emergency care. this study does not involve any direct intervention, and data are collected exclusively from existing electronic health records. ethical approval has been obtained. the findings are expected to guide future protocols involving the integration of physiotherapy into emergency departments in turkey.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * adults aged between 18 and 65 years * presented to the emergency department with non-specific acute lumbar spasm * no serious pathology on initial evaluation (e.g., infection, malignancy, fracture) * no contraindications to physiotherapy or physical activity * agreed to participate in the study and signed the informed consent (if applicable in prospective cases) exclusion criteria: * history of chronic low back pain * presence of neurological deficits (e.g., paresis, paralysis) * diagnosed with serious medical conditions such as infection, malignancy, or spondylodiscitis * pregnancy or contraindications related to reproductive health * history of spinal surgery within the past year * cognitive or physical impairments limiting treatment participation

Keywords: physiotherapy acute low back spasm emergency department manual therapy exercise therapy pain management