Immediate effects of Aussie Current on chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial

To analyze the immediate analgesic effects of Aussie Current on chronic low back pain using different parameters. A total of 105 patients (aged 18-80 years, of both sexes, with chronic low back pain) were randomized into five groups: AG1kHz/100Hz, AG1kHz/2Hz, AG4kHz/100Hz, AG4kHz/2Hz, and placebo. All participants underwent a single application of the Aussie Current for 30 min. The assessments were conducted before and immediately after the intervention, with the following outcomes: pain intensity using the numerical pain rating scale, McGill Pain Questionnaire, mechanical pain threshold, and five-times-sit-to-stand test before and immediately after the intervention. The Start-Back Questionnaire was administered before the intervention to analyze the physical and psychosocial factors related to chronic lower back pain. In the intragroup analysis, all groups showed significant differences in the numerical pain rating scale and total McGill Pain Questionnaire index. For the mechanical pain threshold, a significant difference was observed in the AG1kHz/100Hz Group at three points in the lumbar region and in the five-times-sit-to-stand test at AG1kHz/100Hz, AG1kHz/2Hz, and AG4kHz/100Hz. In the intergroup comparison, there was a significant difference in the numerical pain rating scale scores between the AG1kHz/100Hz and AG1kHz/2Hz Groups in the Placebo Group. Aussie Current provides an immediate analgesic effect in individuals with chronic low back pain; however, there is no consensus on the ideal parameters.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: RBR-98HJ9X.