Just over three-quarters of older adults with chronic low back pain (LBP) experienced significant pain relief after 2 weeks of targeted vibratory therapy (TVT), according to a recent study.

Researchers investigated the efficacy of TVT in improving proprioceptive dysfunction and alleviating chronic LBP in older adults. The single-arm clinical trial, results of which were published in PLOS ONE, included patients aged 65 years and older with nonspecific chronic LBP. The primary objective was to determine whether vibratory stimulation tailored to the frequency of dysfunctional proprioceptors could enhance proprioceptive function and reduce pain levels.

The study involved 56 participants with an average age of 76.4 years; of the 56 patients, 32 (57.1%) were identified as having proprioceptive dysfunction.

Patients were administered TVT at home three times daily for 2 weeks. Proprioceptive function and pain were assessed at the conclusion of the intervention and again 2 weeks postintervention. 

The results demonstrated that 78.1% of patients experienced pain reduction, while 81.3% showed marked improvements in proprioceptive function, highlighting the study's primary focus on proprioception enhancement and the potential of TVT as a key therapeutic approach for proprioceptive dysfunction. Additionally, 73.1% of patients achieved a numerical pain rating scale (NRS) score of 3 or lower, suggesting notable pain relief. Nineteen of 32 patients (59.4%) experienced both an enhancement in proprioceptive function and ongoing pain relief, with an NRS score of 3 or lower 2 weeks post-treatment. Two weeks post-treatment, the average NRS score rose modestly from 2.6 to 3.6 points, suggesting a gradual decrease in pain relief. However, this change was not statistically significant, indicating that the pain relief largely persisted over time. 

Researchers observed a marked improvement in patients' participation in activities of daily living following the application of TVT.

The findings indicated that TVT has the potential to be an effective, noninvasive treatment for older patients with chronic LBP associated with proprioceptive dysfunction. The study authors reported no adverse events associated with TVT, further supporting the safety of the therapy.

Although these results are promising, the researchers emphasized the need for further studies, including controlled trials, to validate these findings and to optimize treatment duration.

This study was funded by the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, with no reported competing interests.