Does early intervention improve outcomes in the physiotherapy management of lumbar radicular syndrome? Results of the POLAR pilot randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate the feasibility of undertaking a definitive randomised controlled trial (RCT).

Setting

This was a pilot, pragmatic superiority RCT with a qualitative element, recruiting from 14 general practitioner (GP) practices in England.

Participants

Patients over 18 years of age presenting to their GP with unilateral lumbar radicular syndrome (LRS), defined as radicular pain and/or neurological symptoms originating from lumbar nerve roots, were eligible to participate in the study, those who did not have a clear understanding of the English language or had comorbidities preventing rehabilitation were ineligible.

Interventions

Participants were randomised into early intervention physiotherapy or usual care with the former receiving their treatment

SUBMITTER: Reddington M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6067394 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature