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

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.