Effectiveness of neuroreflexotherapy intervention in the treatment of common disorders of the spinal column.

Background.

Neuroreflexotherapy intervention (NRT) ) consists of implanting surgical material very superficially on the nerve endings of the skin, without cutting it. This stimulation triggers a neurological mechanism that could improve certain illnesses. All surgical material is sterile, used only once, and left in place for a period of between 14 and 90 days. Its implantation is practically painless, does not require anesthesia and is performed on an outpatient basis.

It is worth pointing out that, although this type of intervention is often mistaken with acupuncture, scientific studies prove that the two are not related; the stimulated areas in an NRT intervention are exclusively determined by the nerve fibers within them. They do not coincide with the sites used in acupuncture, or show similarities in their electric and radioactive characteristics.

On the one hand, NRT interventions have been performed on patients with back pain. The clinical data compiled from these interventions and the initial clinical trials conducted prove the efficacy of this treatment. On the other, the results of available scientific studies permit an explanation of the mechanism through which its efficacy is established.

According to these studies, a neurological mechanism is responsible for the constant pain, neurogenous inflammation and muscle contracture that characterize back pain. In an NRT intervention, the persistent stimulation of some nerve fibers on the skin, called A, activates medullar cells called "neurons of layer IV". When activation occurs, these cells release a substance -called "enkephalin" - that inactivates the neurons involved in the persistence of pain, neurogenous inflammation and muscle contracture.

Objective.

To obtain data on the effectiveness of NRT intervention in the treatment of back pain, in order to assess the convenience of conducting further clinical trials to evaluate its efficacy.

Methodology.

An initial clinical trial was performed: A prospective cohort study with a follow-up period of 6 months.

Clinical data were collected from 2,751 patients with common back pain , that persisted for more than 24 months, the period with pain being longer than the period without it; the discomfort was resistant to drug therapy and there was no indication for urgent surgery.

Patients were recruited at the Kovacs Back Unit in Asturias. Patients' participation was voluntary.

All patients underwent a neuroreflexotherapy intervention. Their clinical status was evaluated immediately before the intervention and during the following 3 months. The pain evolution, their daily activity (including their work), the use of pharmaceuticals, and rehabilitation sessions were also evaluated.

Participants, jointly with the Foundation's Scientific Department:

The Kovacs Back Unit in Asturias.

Results.

Results were published in the journal Medicina del Trabajo (Moreno J, Gestoso M, Kovacs FM. The effectiveness of the neuroreflexotherapy intervention in the treatment of common back pain: preliminary results. Medicina del Trabajo 1992; 1:43-443). In summary, the results show the effectiveness of NRT intervention in the treatment of common back pain resistant to conventional treatments.