Traditional Mongolian Rhythmical Vibration Therapy for Low Back Pain: Acute Mechanisms and Three-Year Sustainability.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Traditional Mongolian Rhythmical Vibration Therapy (RVT) is a manual intervention utilizing low-frequency mechanical oscillations, yet its biomechanical effects lack objective quantification. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of manual RVT on paraspinal muscle stiffness and its long-term sustainability on the quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic low back pain (LBP). METHODS: To evaluate treatment mechanisms and long-term sustainability, this investigation utilized an acute comparative framework (n = 60) alongside a three-year longitudinal observational study design (n = 60) using consecutive convenience sampling. To assess biomechanical efficacy, paraspinal stiffness was measured via mytonometry, contrasting manual RVT against mechanical percussive vibration. Additionally, the long-term sustainability of outcomes was evaluated where clinical efficacy was quantified using the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMQ) and the WHOQoL instrument, supported by a post-treatment metered walking regimen (Terrenkur). Within- and between-group changes were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests. RESULTS: A Manual RVT yielded statistically significant and greater reduction in paraspinal muscle stiffness compared to mechanical vibration (p < 0.05). Immediate clinical outcomes revealed significant reductions in RMQ scores, which dropped from 13.33 ± 2.046 to 3. 40 ± 1.522 (p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 4.20). At the three-year follow-up, participants maintained significantly high quality of life scores across physical, psychological, and social domains (p < 0.001, effect sizes d > 0.80). CONCLUSIONS: Manual RVT is associated with reduced paraspinal muscle stiffness in chronic LBP patients. The integration of this manual therapy with a Terrenkur maintenance regimen appears to support the maintenance of functional and quality of life improvements over a three-year period. However, given the observational design of the study, these outcomes must be interpreted cautiously, and randomized controlled trials are required to establish absolute therapeutic efficacy.