Percussive Vibration Therapy as an Adjunct to Conventional Physiotherapy in Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Hand-held percussive vibration therapy (PVT) is widely used in musculoskeletal rehabilitation, yet its incremental benefit beyond an active physiotherapy program for chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) is unclear. We investigated whether PVT added to conventional physiotherapy (CPT) improves disability, sleep quality, and pain. Methods: This single-center, parallel-group, assessor-blinded randomized trial enrolled 50 adults aged 18-65 years with CNLBP and baseline visual analogue scale (VAS) pain >= 4/10. Participants were allocated equally to PVT + CPT or CPT alone and attended three sessions weekly for eight weeks. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was the primary outcome; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and VAS scores were secondary outcomes. Week-8 scores were analyzed with baseline-adjusted ANCOVA using HC3 robust standard errors. Results: Follow-up data were complete for all participants. The adjusted ODI score at week 8 was 2.59 points higher with PVT + CPT than with CPT (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47 to 4.71; p = 0.017), a statistically significant difference in favor of CPT. PSQI scores did not differ between groups (adjusted difference, 0.25; 95% CI, -0.40 to 0.90; p = 0.451). VAS scores were lower with PVT + CPT (adjusted difference, -1.15; 95% CI, -1.45 to -0.85; p < 0.001). Conclusions: PVT did not provide an additional benefit for disability and did not improve sleep quality when added to CPT. The pain difference was a secondary, exploratory finding of uncertain clinical relevance.