OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of early introduction of isometric exercises on pain intensity and trunk and lower extremity muscles strength in patients with sciatica. METHODS: Fifty two patients treated for disc herniation with sciatica were included in this randomized controlled single-blinded study. They were examined twice, before and after twenty days of rehabilitation, with neuroimaging, visual analog scale (VAS), straight leg rising test (SLR), range of spine movement in a saggital plane, muscle strength, electromyography (EMG), electroneurography (ENG) and intensity of current versus stimulus duration tests (IC-SD). Twenty-six patients, selected randomly, were ordered to reduce the physical activity and frequent loading of the spine (conventional (C) group) while 26 patients underwent a program of supervised isometric exercises (intervention (I) group). A control group of healthy subjects performed once the same examination. RESULTS: Following treatment the muscle strength and flexibility of the spine showed significant (p < 0.05) improvement in I group with a significantly lower pain level and number of positive SLR tests. The same tests performed in C group indicated no parallel improvement. EMG Parameters increased in almost all muscles, but only in the I group were they associated with simultaneous improvement in ENG examinations of peroneal nerves. CONCLUSION: Early introduction of isometric exercises, 14 days after the incidence, is a relevant choice in cases of patients with sciatica caused by the disc herniation.

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