Infrared therapy for chronic low back pain: a randomized, controlled trial.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to assess the degree of pain relief obtained by applying infrared (IR) energy to the low back in patients with chronic, intractable low back pain.

Methods: Forty patients with chronic low back pain of over six years' duration were recruited from patients attending the Rothbart Pain Management Clinic, North York, Ontario. They came from the patient lists of three physicians at the clinic, and were randomly assigned to IR therapy or placebo treatment.