Abstract
<jats:p>Purpose This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of laser therapy and motor control training in patients with lumbar disc prolapse and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Material and methods In this randomized controlled trial, 60 male and female patients with lumbar disc prolapse and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, aged 45 to 77, were randomly assigned to two equal-sized intervention groups: Group A and Group B. While Group A only received Low-Level Laser treatment, Group B received both Low-Level Laser and Motor Control Exercises. Primary outcome measures, including pain intensity via the visual analog scale, measurements of lumbar spine range of motion via tape measure, and measurement of functional ability via the Oswestry lower back pain questionnaire, were assessed prior to administering the intervention and at four weeks post-treatment. Outcome measures were collected at both pre and post-intervention. Results The current study employed a two-way mixed model multivariate analysis of variance to scrutinize the therapeutic outcomes. The findings reported that participants who underwent Low-Level Laser treatment exhibited a statistically significant enhancement in their visual analog scale, extension, and Oswestry lower back pain questionnaire scores (with P-values of 0.001, 0.001, and 0.001, respectively). Regrettably, no significant improvement was observed in flexion, right side bend, or left side bend post-intervention (with P-values of 0.326, 0.326, and 0.264, respectively). In contrast, the cohort that received adjunct Low-Level Laser and Motor Control Exercises showed a substantial improvement in visual analog scale scores, flexion, extension, right side bend, left side bend, and Oswestry lower back pain questionnaire (with P-values of <0.001 in all comparisons). Conclusions Low-level laser therapy and Motor Control Exercises frequently relieve pain, increase the lumbar spine's active range of motion, and improve functional ability in patients with low back pain.</jats:p>