Effect of massotherapy on the in vivo free radical metabolism in patients with prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc and cervical spondylopathy

Abstract

The endogenous free radical scavenger superoxide dismutase (SOD) and blood catalase (CAT) in 2 groups of patients with prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc and cervical spondylopathy were lower than that of the healthy control group, while the -SH reflecting the metabolic disturbance of free radical was higher. After massotherapy, blood SOD and CAT were increased, while lipid peroxide (LPO), -SH in urine were decreased, demonstrating that there are distinct parallel relationships existing in the changes of these enzymes in blood and urine.