High-power Laser Versus Pulsed Electromagnetic Therapy in Lumbar Radiculopathy.

NCT07393750 | Not Yet Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: P.T.REC/012/006166
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

To compare between high-power laser versus pulsed electromagnetic therapy on pain and Hoffman reflex in lumbar radiculopathy.

Conditions

Lumbar Radiculopathy; Hoffman's Reflex; Pulsed Electromagnetic Therapy; Laser Therapy; Herniated Lumbar Disc

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)

  The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is a tool for measuring pain intensity, using a continuous 10-centimeter line with "no pain" at one end (0) and "worst imaginable pain" at the other (10), where patients mark their current pain level, with a ruler used to measure the score from the zero mark for a score out of 10, commonly used in research and clinical settings to track pain changes.

  baseline

• Hoffman reflex or H reflex

  H-reflex will be measured in the soleus muscle by stimulating the tibial nerve with a one-millisecond pulse at 0.2pps of H-max. The peak-to-peak amplitude of the highest recorded H-reflex and the latencies of four spaced traces for both lower extremities will be averaged for each participant. The soleus H-reflex will be evoked by tibial nerve stimulation in the popliteal fossa.

  baseline

Study Arms (3)

study group 1 (G1a)

EXPERIMENTAL

study group (G1a) will receive 20 minutes of high-power laser therapy followed by 25 the same physical therapy program as control group.

Device: high-power laser; Other: physiotherapy program

study group 2 (G1b)

EXPERIMENTAL

The study group 2 patients will receive 20 minutes of Pulsed electromagnetic field followed by 25 the same selected physiotherapy program as control group.

Device: Pulsed electromagnetic field; Other: physiotherapy program

control group (G2)

EXPERIMENTAL

The control group patients will receive selected physiotherapy program.

Other: physiotherapy program

Interventions

high-power laser DEVICE

The study group (G1a) receive 20 minutes of high-power laser therapy followed by 25 the same physical therapy program as control group.

study group 1 (G1a)

Pulsed electromagnetic field DEVICE

group 2 patients will receive 20 minutes of Pulsed electromagnetic field followed by 25 the same selected physiotherapy program as control group.

study group 2 (G1b)

physiotherapy program OTHER

Selected Physical therapy program in the form of: 1. Nerve gliding exercise for sciatic nerve. 2. Hot pack for 15 minutes, for 12 sessions. 3. Core stability exercise (static abdominal exercise, bridging, knee to chest).

control group (G2); study group 1 (G1a); study group 2 (G1b)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 55 Years - 68 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Sixty lumbar radiculopathy patients, of both sexes, will represent the sample.
• The patient's age will range from 55 to 68 years old.
• Patients with degenerative lumbar disc lesion at L5-S1 confirmed by MRI and latency in H- reflex.
• Patients with unilateral sciatic radiating pain (from 5 to 8 by visual analogue scale).
• Patient with normal cognitive function (MME more than 25)
• BMI from 20-29.9

You may not qualify if:

• The patients will be excluded if they have one of the followings:
• Patients with pacemakers and presence of electronic implants.
• Pregnant women.
• History of or existing malignant conditions, active tuberculosis of the lungs.
• Any medical condition that may cause sciatic nerve lesion except lumbar radiculopathy, (e.g., diabetes mellitus or collagen disorders).
• Cardiac, renal or hepatic failures recent or previous history of seizures or epilepsy.
• Previous surgery at L5-S1.
• Bleeding disorders.
• Serious infections of a viral, bacterial and fungal origin, conditions after organ transplants, upper motor neuron lesions.
• Patients with cognitive impairment.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Cairo University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Egyptair Hospital

Cairo, Egypt

Location

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MeSH Terms

Conditions

Radiculopathy; Reflex, Abnormal

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• PROF. DR. MOSHERA HASSAN DARWISH, Professor of Physical Therapy

  Cairo University

  STUDY CHAIR

Central Study Contacts

Menna Tallah Sherif Hassan, B.SC. in Physical Therapy

CONTACT

+201275050955; missy_girlz@hotmail.com

Dr.Marwa Mostafa Abdel Moneim, Lecturer of Physical Therapy

CONTACT

+201005661591; marwa.mostafa@cu.edu.eg

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Physiotherapist Egyptair Hospital

Model Details: Randomized Control Study The selected patients will be randomly assigned into "three" equal groups: study group 1 (G1a), study group 2 (G1b) and control group (G2). The control group patients will receive selected physiotherapy program. The study group (G1a) will receive 20 minutes of high-power laser therapy followed by 25 the same physical therapy program as control group. The study group 2 patients will receive 20 minutes of Pulsed electromagnetic field followed by 25 the same selected physiotherapy program as control group.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 24, 2026
• First Posted: February 6, 2026
• Study Start: March 29, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2027
• Last Updated: February 6, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Locations

EG (1)