AIM: To compare McKenzie mechanics principle plus ultrashort wave and chronic traction plus ultrashort wave in the treatment of lumbar and leg pain. METHODS: One hundred patients with lumbar and leg pain admitted to the Outpatients of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Nanyang Central Hospital from October 2002 to October 2003 were enrolled, and were randomized into treatment group and control group with 50 cases in each group. All the patients agreed to participate in the study. (1) McKenzie mechanics principle and ultrashort wave were used in the treatment group. McKenzie mechanics principle included treatment for abnormal posture syndrome of lumbar spine, treatment for abnormal function syndrome of lumbar spine, and treatment for displacement of lumbar intervertebral disc. Treatment plan of McKenzie mechanics principle consisted of seven sections, four sections of anterior flexion training and three sections of posterior extension training, and the uration of treatment was 10 days. Ultrashort wave treatment (duty 250 W, wave-length 7.37 m, current 4 A, output 40.68 MHz, 20 minutes once a day) was performed for 10 days. (2) Chronic traction (pull strength 15 to 30 kg, once a day) and ultrashort wave (the same as that in the treatment group) were used in the control group. The duration of treatment was 10 days. (3) Ten days after treatment, modified scale for lumbar and leg pain was performed in the two groups. The scale includes twelve items, low back pain, leg pain or numbness, gait, straight-leg raising test, sensory disorder, motor disorder, and limited degree of daily living, 0 to 3 scores for each item: score 0 as no disorder, 3 as severe disorder. Criteria for therapeutic effect included disappearance of clinical symptoms and signs, without disturbance in daily living, score on disease condition < 5. Obvious improvement in clinical symptoms and signs with the improved rate >= 50% was considered as effective. No change or aggravation in clinical symptoms and signs with the improved rate < 50% was considered as ineffective (improved rate = (pretreatment score - posttreatment score) / pretreatment score 100%). RESULTS: According to the intention-to-treat analysis, 100 cases were all involved in the result analysis. There were 38 effective cases, 11 fair cases and 1 ineffective case in the treatment group, and 25, 19 and 6 in the control group. The total effective rate in the treatment group was 98% (49/50), significantly higher than 88% (44/50) in the control group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: McKenzie mechanics principle is a safe and effective therapy for non-operation patients with lumbar and leg pain. It can stretch the adaptive shortened tissues of muscles of low back to reconstruct the function of muscle and promote the motor function through auto-postural al-traction.

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