High-intensity Laser Therapy and Mulligan Mobilization for Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain

Chronic non-specific low back pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition associated with pain, reduced functional capacity, and decreased quality of life. Conservative management often includes manual therapy and physical modalities; however, the optimal combination of these approaches remains unclear.

High-intensity laser therapy (HILT) has been proposed to provide analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects and to promote tissue healing. Mulligan mobilization techniques, particularly sustained natural apophyseal glides (SNAGs), are commonly used to restore pain-free movement and improve spinal function. While both interventions have shown individual benefits, evidence regarding their combined effect is limited.

This pilot randomized controlled trial aims to explore the feasibility and preliminary clinical effectiveness of combining HILT with Mulligan mobilization in adults with chronic non-specific low back pain. The study will evaluate changes in pain intensity, functional disability, and lumbar range of motion following the intervention period.

Participants will be randomly allocated to intervention groups, and outcomes will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention using standardized clinical measures. Findings from this pilot study will help inform the design of larger trials and clarify whether a multimodal approach incorporating HILT and Mulligan techniques offers added clinical value in this population.

Inclusion criteria

• Male and female participants aged 18-60 years
• Diagnosis of chronic non-specific low back pain (pain persisting for ≥3 months)
• Pain localized between the lower costal margins and gluteal folds, with or without referred pain
• Baseline pain intensity of ≥3 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
• Ability to understand and follow instructions and provide informed consent
• Not currently receiving other forms of physiotherapy or structured treatment for low back pain during the study period

Exclusion criteria

• Specific spinal pathology (e.g., fracture, tumor, infection, inflammatory diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis)
• History of spinal surgery
• Neurological deficits or signs of nerve root compression (e.g., severe radiculopathy)
• Pregnancy
• Severe osteoporosis or other contraindications to manual therapy
• Contraindications to high-intensity laser therapy (e.g., malignancy in the treatment area, photosensitivity disorders)
• Current use of medications that significantly affect pain perception (e.g., high-dose opioids)
• Participation in another clinical trial within the last 3 months