The Effects of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization and Vibration Therapy on Pain, Functionality, and Kinesiophobia in Individuals With Lumbar Disc Herniation

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effects of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) and vibration massage therapy on pain, physical function, and fear of movement (kinesiophobia) in adults with lumbar disc herniation. The study compares these therapies to conventional exercise to understand their impact on these symptoms in individuals diagnosed with disc herniation at the protrusion level who have experienced pain for at least three months. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: a conventional home exercise program, IASTM treatment, or percussion (vibration) massage therapy. The exercise group will perform stretching and strengthening exercises twice daily for four weeks with weekly phone follow-ups. The IASTM group will receive twice-weekly sessions using specialized stainless-steel tools applied to specific lower back muscles over six minutes per session. The vibration massage group will receive twice-weekly 10-minute sessions using a Theragun device targeting muscles in the lower back. During the study, participants will be assessed at the start and after four weeks of treatment using tools measuring pain levels (Visual Analog Scale), disability (Oswestry Disability Index), and fear of movement (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia). Researchers will monitor participants' adherence to exercise, collect feedback on symptoms, and observe changes in functionality and pain. The total study duration per participant covers the four-week treatment period, with safety and results monitored by Istanbul Medipol University Hospital.

IASTM and Vibration Effects on Pain, Functionality, and Kinesiophobia in Lumbar Disc Herniation