{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T20:33:35Z","timestamp":1792096415103,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":40,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"17","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,26]],"date-time":"2022-08-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1661472000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Ministry of Health &amp; Welfare, Republic of Korea","award":["HI18C1104"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["HI18C1104"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Despite the increasing interest in RF (Radiofrequency) therapy, little is known about its effectiveness for low back pain (LBP). The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of 4.4-MHz RF diathermy compared to ultrasound (US) in patients with LBP. One-hundred-and-eighteen patients with LBP were randomized with RF (n = 62) or US (n = 56). Investigator and subjects were blinded to the treatment group. Either RF (4.4 MHz, 45 W\/cm2) or US (1 MHz, 2 W\/cm2) was applied for 10 to 15 min, 3 times per week for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI, %). Secondary outcomes were numeric rating scale (NRS), Biering\u2013Sorensen test, up-and-go test, successful pain relief, and successful functional improvement. Clinical outcomes were evaluated prior to intervention (baseline), and at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding baseline demographic and clinical characteristics. Both groups observed a significant improvement of ODI (%), NRS, Biering\u2013Sorensen test, and up-and-go test at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment (p &lt; 0.05); however, no significant differences were found between groups. The RF group showed a higher proportion of successful pain relief at 12 weeks after treatment than the US group (p = 0.048). The RF diathermy showed favorable results in pain reduction, improvement of function, mobility, and back muscle endurance. Compared with US, RF diathermy obtained slightly better perception of patients in pain relief at 12 weeks after treatment. The results from this study indicated that 4.4-MHz RF diathermy can effectively be used as a conservative treatment option for patients with LBP.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm11175011","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,29]],"date-time":"2022-08-29T03:34:56Z","timestamp":1661744096000},"page":"5011","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["A Comparison of the Effect of a 4.4-MHz Radiofrequency Deep Heating Therapy and Ultrasound on Low Back Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Multicenter Trial"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Jung Hwan","family":"Lee","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Namdarun Rehabilitation Clinic, Yongin 16858, Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8001-7782","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jong Geol","family":"Do","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hee Jin","family":"Park","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 03181, Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6611-0999","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yong-Taek","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 03181, Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sang Jun","family":"Kim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Seoul Jun Rehabilitation Clinic, Seoul Jun Rehabilitation Research Center, Seoul 06737, Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1186\/s13013-017-0121-3","article-title":"Low back pain in older adults: Risk factors, management options and future directions","volume":"12","author":"Wong","year":"2017","journal-title":"Scoliosis Spinal Disord."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2028","DOI":"10.1002\/art.34347","article-title":"A systematic review of the global prevalence of low back pain","volume":"64","author":"Hoy","year":"2012","journal-title":"Arthritis Rheum."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1482","DOI":"10.1093\/pm\/pny287","article-title":"Therapeutic Ultrasound for Pain Management in Chronic Low Back Pain and Chronic Neck Pain: A Systematic Review","volume":"21","author":"Noori","year":"2020","journal-title":"Pain Med."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"493","DOI":"10.7326\/M16-2459","article-title":"Nonpharmacologic Therapies for Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review for an American College of Physicians Clinical Practice Guideline","volume":"166","author":"Chou","year":"2017","journal-title":"Ann. 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