Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Physical Therapy for Neuromuscular and Neurosurgery

Sciatica is known as nerve root pain, or radiculopathy in the distribution of the lumbosacral nerves. Sciatica is caused by a herniated disc involving nerve root compression. However, lumbar canal stenosis or foraminal stenosis, tumors or cysts are other possible causes. Transcranial direct current stimulation is noninvasive technique in which a low amplitude electrical current is used to change the state of local cortical excitability to overcome sciatic pain. Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on discogenic sciatic pain. Subjects: Thirty female patients complained from chronic unilateral sciatica due to lumbar disc prolapse at L4-5& L5, S1.Their ages ranged from 35 to 55 years old. The patients were assigned randomly into two equal groups, control group (G1) and study group (G2). The patients in control group (G1) received designed physical therapy program consisted of abdominal strengthening and lower back stretching exercises. The patients in the study group (G2) received the same physical therapy program as G1 in addition to transcranial direct current stimulation. The clinical assessment of discogenic sciatica consisted of assessing pain intensity through visual analogue scale (VAS), range of motion of hip flexion during straight leg raise (SLR) was measured by electrogoniometer and quality of life was assessed by Maine-Seattle Back Questionnaire (MSBQ). Pre and post assessment were done before and after eight weeks of treatment (end of treatment) for both groups. Results: It revealed significant decrease in the mean values of VAS post treatment in study group compared with control group (p = 0.0001). A significant increase in the mean values of ROM post treatment in study group compared with control group (p = 0.0001) and a significant decrease in the mean values of MSBQ post treatment in study group compared with control group (p = 0.001). Conclusion: It was concluded that transcranial direct current stimulation has significant effect on discogenic sciatica

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