Efficacy of Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Electrotherapy Modalities in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

The Oswestry Disability Index is the most commonly used outcome-measure questionnaire for low back pain in a hospital setting. Each section is scored on a 0-5 scale, 5 representing the greatest disability. The index is calculated by dividing the summed score by the total possible score, which is then multiplied by 100 and expressed as a percentage. Thus, for every question not answered, the denominator is reduced by 5. A score of 0-20 reflects minimal disability, 21-40 moderate disability, 41-60 severe disability, 61-80 crippled, and 81-100 bed-bound.

we will use Inclinometer.

Schober's test is a physical examination used in family medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, rheumatology to measure the ability of a patient to flex the lower back.

The Lafayette Manual Muscle Tester (MMT) is an ergonomic hand-held device for objectively quantifying muscle strength. Tests are performed with the clinician applying force to the limb of a patient. The objective is for the clinician to overcome or "break" the patient's resistance.

A CYBEX Isokinetic Test is used to measure the maximum strength of a joint throughout its available range-of-motion (ROM).

Trunk muscle endurance of the subjects was evaluated using flexor endurance and Sorensen tests.

Using this unique device, clinicians can assess neuromuscular control by quantifying the ability to maintain dynamic bilateral and unilateral postural stability on a static or unstable surface. Use any of four test protocols including fall risk, athletic single leg stability, limits of stability and postural stability.

The visual analog scale (VAS) is a validated, subjective measure for acute and chronic pain.

The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a 21-item self-reporting questionnaire for evaluating the severity of depression in normal and psychiatric populations. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a 21-item, multiple-choice inventory. Respondents are asked to rate each item based on four response choices according to the severity of the symptoms, ranging from the absence of a symptom to an intense level, during the past week. Individual scale items are scored on a 4-point continuum (0=least, 3=most), with a total summed score range of 0-63. Total score of 0-13 is considered minimal range, 14-19 is mild, 20-28 is moderate, and 29-63 is severe.

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a self-report questionnaire that assesses sleep quality over a 1-month time interval. Each of the sleep components yields a score ranging from 0 to 3, with 3 indicating the greatest dysfunction. The sleep component scores are summed to yield a total score ranging from 0 to 21 with the higher total score (referred to as global score) indicating worse sleep quality.