Effects of whole-body electromyostimulation on chronic non-specific low back pain in adults: a randomised controlled trial
Auswirkungen der Ganzkörper-Elektrostimulation auf chronische unspezifische Rückenschmerzen bei Erwachsenen: eine randomisierte kontrollierte Studie
Anja Weissenfels, Michael Teschler, Sebastian Willert, Markus Hettchen, Michael Fröhlich, Heinz Kleinöder, Simon von Stengel, Wolfgang Kemmler · Německý
Chronic low back pain is among the most common health problems of the adult population. This randomised controlled trial was designed to verify the effectiveness of whole-body electromyostimulation (EMS) in people suffering from chronic non-specific back pain. Thirty patients aged 40-70 were enrolled and randomly allocated to an EMS group and a control group. Over 12 weeks, the intervention group completed one 20-minute EMS session per week focused on the trunk and stabilisation system. The control group continued its usual lifestyle without any intervention. The main outcome measure was the intensity of pain in the lumbar spine region, supplemented by an assessment of pain frequency and trunk muscle strength. At the end of the programme, the EMS group showed a significant reduction in back pain intensity together with an improvement in back muscle strength. The control group, by contrast, showed no significant changes. The results support the use of EMS as a time-efficient tool for people with chronic back pain, particularly if they have limited opportunities for regular exercise.
- The study had the character of a randomised controlled trial (RCT). - A total of 30 patients with chronic non-specific back pain were enrolled. - The programme lasted 12 weeks and comprised 1 WB-EMS session per week of 20 minutes. - Back pain intensity decreased significantly in the WB-EMS group (p = 0.002). - The difference between the EMS group and the control group was statistically significant (p = 0.027). - There was a significant increase in trunk extensor strength (p = 0.005). - Improvement was also recorded for the trunk flexors. - The control group showed no significant changes.
The results show that regular muscle activation using WB-EMS can significantly reduce the intensity of chronic back pain and at the same time improve the function of the deep trunk stabilisation system. Thanks to the short duration of training, WB-EMS can be a suitable solution for people with sedentary jobs, limited physical activity or long-term back pain.