A 2024 Hospital Study Compared Two Common Treatments

Welcome to the ORIEMS FIT RESEARCH DIGEST

This article is part of the Oriems Fit Research Digest series.

In this series, we regularly share real scientific research in very simple language.
The goal is to inspire curiosity and help readers understand what researchers are exploring around the world.

We do not give medical advice.
We do not make treatment claims.

At the end of every post, we include links to the original research paper so you can:

• Read the real study

• Download the full PDF

• Fact-check everything yourself

• Skip our explanation if you prefer the original science

Research Details (Explained in Simple Q&A)

Who did this research, and where?

This research was conducted by medical and physiotherapy researchers from Turkey, including:

• Istanbul Kent University

• Ufuk University Faculty of Medicine

• Lokman Hekim University

• Ankara Güven Hospital

The study was published in 2024 in the Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences, a peer-reviewed academic journal .

What problem were the researchers studying?

They studied chronic lumbar radiculopathy, commonly known as sciatica.

Sciatica usually involves:

• Pain traveling from the lower back down the leg

• Nerve irritation or compression

• Burning, stabbing, or electric-like leg pain

• Long-term discomfort that affects daily life

Who took part in the study?

• 75 adults with chronic sciatica

• Ages ranged from 18 to 75 years

• All had leg pain for more than 3 months

• MRI and nerve tests confirmed nerve involvement

These were real hospital patients, not athletes or lab volunteers.

What treatments were tested?

Participants were divided into three groups:

1. Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) applied to sciatic nerve points

2. TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)

3. Sham treatment (placebo-style comparison)

All treatments were applied:

• 5 days per week

• For 3 weeks

• Total of 15 sessions

What did the researchers measure?

They measured changes in:

• Leg pain (VAS scale)

• Neuropathic pain (DN4 questionnaire)

• Daily function and disability (Oswestry Disability Index)

• Results were checked after treatment and again 3 months later

What positive results were observed?

Researchers found that:

• Both TENS and LLLT reduced sciatic leg pain

• Neuropathic pain scores improved

• Daily function improved

• Low-Level Laser Therapy showed stronger pain reduction than TENS

• Some pain relief lasted up to 3 months after treatment

These findings were based on measured scores, not opinions .

What does this mean in simple language?

In this hospital study:

• Electrical nerve stimulation helped reduce leg pain

• Light-based therapy helped even more

• Some people felt better weeks after sessions ended

• Nerve-related leg pain responded to non-drug approaches

The study does not say these treatments cure sciatica — it simply reports what researchers observed.

Why is this interesting for people with sciatica?

Sciatica can:

• Limit walking

• Interrupt sleep

• Reduce quality of life

This study shows that non-invasive technologies are being actively studied in hospitals for managing nerve-related leg pain.

Study Information (Quick Reference)

• Original Research Title:
  Comparison of the Effectiveness of TENS and Low-Level Laser Therapy Applied to the Sciatic Nerve Region in Chronic Lumbar Radiculopathy

• Simplified Name:
  Can Electrical Stimulation Help Reduce Sciatic Leg Pain?

• Journal:
  Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences (2024)

• Why this source matters:
  Peer-reviewed, hospital-based study with follow-up data 

• 🔗 PubMed Link: 👉 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39050992/
• ❤️ If you like this Research Digest, share it with your friends: 👉 https://bit.ly/3ME4NZ2

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Join the Discussion

Have you ever wondered why sciatic pain travels down the leg?
Do non-drug approaches surprise you?

Leave a comment and join the discussion.

Mandatory Disclaimer

This blog post is for informational and recreational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new treatment.

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