The Effect of Physical Therapy on Sexual Function

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Sexual function in low back pain and after lumbar surgery has been evaluated in many studies In a few studies, sexual function problems after surgery have also been reported. In the literature, there is no study that investigates the effectiveness of physical therapy on sexual function in patients with low back pain. In this study, the effectiveness of physical therapy on sexual function in patients with low back pain will be evaluated.

Detailed Description
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63 patients who had chronic low back pain who applied to City Hospital, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department between January 2021 and January 2023 were enrolled in the study. Sexually active patients between the ages of 18 and 60, for whom physical therapy was planned for low-back pain related to lumbar pathologies, were included in the study. Informed consent was obtained from all patients. Exclusion criteria were defined as having contraindications for any physical therapy agents, having cardiovascular, neurological, psychiatric disease, or sexual disorders. Short Form-12 (SF-12), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) were recorded. International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) were utilized to evaluate sexual function Fifteen sessions of physical therapy were planned for each patient. The physical therapy program included 15 minutes of conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, 10 minutes of ultrasound, and 15 minutes of superficial heaters such as hot packs or infrarouge. All patients were evaluated the day before the first physical therapy session, the one-month and three-month after the last physical therapy session.

Official Title
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The Effectiveness of Physical Therapy on Sexual Function in Patients With Low Back Pain

Conditions
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Sexual Dysfunction, Low Back Pain

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: Physical treatment agents


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: low back pain due to lumbar pathologies being sexually active have no contraindications for physical therapy agents Exclusion Criteria: known sexual function problems, known psychiatric disease and/or are taking antidepressant diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease neurological diseases

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Screening
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Patients with low back pain<br> | Device: Physical treatment agents<br>* Physical treatment agents such as TENS (transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation), hot pack and ultrasound will be applied to patients with low back pain. Sexual function will be assessed before, just after and 3 months later physical therapy.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| change from sexual function scores at just after physical therapy and 3 months | Female Sexual Function Index for women and International Index of Erectile Function for men will be used. There is no cut-off values. Better scores mean better results | Before, just after and 3 months later physical therapy | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| change from disability scores at just after physical therapy and 3 months | Oswestry Disability Index will be used. min-max 0-100. better scores means worse results | Before, just after and 3 months later physical therapy | 
| change from quality of life at just after physical therapy and 3 months | Short Form-12 will be used. min-max 0-100. better score means better quality of life. | Before, just after and 3 months later physical therapy | 
| change from mood at just after physical therapy and 3 months | Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale will be used. min-max 0-21. better score means better result. | Before, just after and 3 months later physical therapy |