Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Physical Therapy for Low Back Pain According to Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings

Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder associated with substantial disability and reduced quality of life. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is frequently used to identify structural spinal abnormalities, the relationship between MRI findings and treatment outcomes remains unclear. This retrospective study aims to evaluate whether the effectiveness of a standardized physical therapy program differs according to baseline lumbar MRI findings. Medical records of 120 patients with low back pain who underwent lumbar MRI and completed 15 sessions of physical therapy between January 2022 and February 2026 will be reviewed. Patients will be classified into three MRI-based groups: disc herniation, disc degeneration, and non-specific MRI findings. Treatment outcomes will be assessed using changes in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores before and after treatment. The findings may contribute to identifying patient subgroups that respond differently to conservative treatment and support more individualized rehabilitation strategies.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 18 and 65 years. * Completion of 15 sessions of physical therapy. * Availability of accessible MRI images in the medical records. * No history of lumbar spine surgery. * Absence of conditions that may cause low back pain, including fibromyalgia, neuropathy, spondyloarthropathy, or scoliosis. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of comorbid conditions that may cause low back pain (fibromyalgia, rheumatologic diseases, scoliosis, herpes zoster, polyneuropathy, central pain syndromes). * Presence of systemic neuromuscular disorders. * Acute disc herniation or vertebral fracture. * Receipt of fewer or more than 15 sessions of physical therapy. * Missing data in follow-up records. * Use of analgesic medications during the treatment period.