Chronic discogenic low back pain: Clinical benefits of TECAR therapy + kinesiotherapy

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Created On: 20/07/2026

Chronic discogenic low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability, functional impairment, and diminished quality of life, primarily resulting from intervertebral disc degeneration.

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Key take away

Combined capacitive–resistive diathermy and kinesiotherapy improve functional capacity in chronic discogenic low back pain, although pain reduction is comparable to kinesiotherapy alone.

Background

Chronic discogenic low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability, functional impairment, and diminished quality of life, primarily resulting from intervertebral disc degeneration. Conservative treatment commonly includes physiotherapy modalities such as capacitive–resistive diathermy (Transfer of Energy Capacitive and Resistive; TECAR), which generates endogenous heat through capacitive and resistive energy transfer to target different tissue types.

Kinesiotherapy, based on active patient participation, is widely used to reduce pain, relieve muscle spasm, and restore functional mobility. This study evaluated whether combining TECAR therapy with kinesiotherapy improved pain and functional outcomes compared with kinesiotherapy alone.

Method

Researchers conducted a prospective, controlled clinical study involving 41 patients with chronic discogenic LBP and imaging-confirmed lumbar degenerative disc disease. Subjects were assigned to an experimental group receiving capacitive–resistive diathermy (TECAR) + kinesiotherapy or a control group receiving a placebo procedure + the same kinesiotherapy program. Clinical outcomes were assessed via the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) for functional disability at baseline (T0), immediately after treatment, and at 4 weeks (T2) and 8 weeks (T3) following therapy.

Result

A total of 41 patients with chronic discogenic LBP and imaging-confirmed lumbar degenerative changes were included. At baseline (T0), the experimental group had higher VAS pain scores than the control group, while ODI scores were comparable between groups. Following treatment, the experimental group demonstrated a remarkable improvement in functional capacity (ODI), and these benefits were maintained immediately after therapy as well as at the 4-week and 8-week follow-up assessments.

Pain intensity, measured using the VAS, decreased over time in both groups. However, no statistically significant differences in pain reduction were noted between the groups during follow-up.

Conclusion

Adding capacitive–resistive diathermy to rehabilitation improved functional outcomes, reinforcing its role as a beneficial component of conservative management for chronic discogenic LBP.