INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECT OF INSTRUMENT-ASSISTED SOFT TISSUE MOBILIZATION IN INDIVIDUALS WITH LUMBAR DISC HERNIATION: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

Purpose: This research evaluated the effects of the instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) technique in individuals with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Methods: Forty LDH patients were randomly assigned to a control group or an IASTM group (20 patients in each group). The IASTM group underwent a treatment protocol consisting of two IASTM sessions per week in addition to classic physiotherapy methods (hotpack, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, ultrasound and exercise) over a four week period. The treatment specifically targeted the paraspinal muscles, gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and hamstring muscles. All participants were assessed before treatment, immediately after treatment and two months post-treatment using various measures, including pain intensity visual analog scale, straight leg raise (SLR) test, slump test (measuring knee extension from 90 degrees flexion), 6-minute walking test (6-MWT), range of motion (ROM) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire. Results: Both groups experienced a significant decrease in pain immediately after treatment (p=0.002). However, although both groups showed improvements in post-treatment SLR, slump test, 6-MWT, ROM, and SF-36 scores, no significant correlations were found (p=0.208). However, the IASTM group experienced greaterclinical improvement across all parameters. Conclusion: The findings suggest that incorporating IASTM techniques into physiotherapy programs for individuals with LDH can enhance rehabilitation outcomes.