A Study on the Frequency Correlation of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on the Functional Impact in Patients with Chronic Lower Back Pain

Anzhong Liu; Yuqin Jiang; Zhen Shu; Zhenzhen Liao; Li Chen

doi:10.54097/g3hpa123

Authors

Anzhong Liu
Yuqin Jiang
Zhen Shu
Zhenzhen Liao
Li Chen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54097/g3hpa123

Keywords:

Chronic Low Back Pain, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Pain, Functional Impairment, Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the differential effects of different frequencies of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on pain and functional improvement in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). We selected 80 CLBP patients admitted to the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine/Pain Department of Zigong Fourth People's Hospital from July 2023 to September 2024, and randomly divided them into a control group (n=20), a 1Hz rTMS group (n=20), a 5Hz rTMS group (n=20), and a 10Hz rTMS group (n=20). Pain visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) scores were assessed before treatment, after treatment, and 1 month after the end of treatment, and adverse reactions during treatment and follow-up were recorded. The results showed that VAS and RMDQ scores at post-treatment and 1-month follow-up were significantly lower than those before treatment in all four groups (all P<0.05). After treatment, pairwise comparisons of VAS scores between groups showed statistically significant differences (all P<0.05); for RMDQ scores, significant differences were only found between the control group and the 5Hz group, and between the 5Hz group and the 10Hz group (all P<0.05). At the 1-month follow-up, VAS scores showed significant differences between each rTMS group and the control group (all P<0.05), and also between the 1Hz group and the 10Hz group (P<0.05); RMDQ scores showed significant differences between the control group and the 5Hz group, between the 5Hz group and the 10Hz group, and between the 1Hz group and the 10Hz group (all P<0.05), while no statistically significant differences were found in other pairwise comparisons. No significant adverse reactions were reported in any group during treatment and follow-up. The conclusion indicates that rTMS can safely and effectively alleviate pain and improve function in CLBP patients. High-frequency stimulation (10Hz, 5Hz) showed superior effects in pain reduction and functional recovery compared to low-frequency stimulation (1Hz) and the control group, and the degree of pain improvement showed a frequency-dependent trend (10Hz > 5Hz > 1Hz > control group).

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