Stabilization Exercises Alone vs Stabilization Exercises Plus Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in People With Chronic Low Back Pain

University of Pittsburgh

Status: Completed

Conditions: Low Back Pain

Treatments: Device: Electrical Stimulation; Other: Rehabilitation exercises

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02864732

PRO12100651

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility of applying neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the lumbar spine, to report how tolerable the intervention is, and whether the electrical stimulation improve pain, function and muscle strength.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Between 18 years of age and 60.
• Body Mass Index (BMI) of less than 34.
• Low Back Pain duration of 3 months or greater (chronic).
• Minimum pain level on Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is 3 or greater.
• Minimum score of Modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (MODQ) is 20 or greater.
• Understands English

Exclusion criteria

• Positive nerve root tension signs
• Progressive neurological deficit
• Positive Babinski sign.
• Sensory loss that is not in correspondence with dermatomal distribution or peripheral nerves.
• History of spinal surgery
• History of inflammatory joint disease
• Contraindications to physical exercise including history of cardiac disease or being told by a physician not to engage in physical exercise.
• Contraindications to NMES including cardiac pacemaker or skin allergy to adhesives
• History of metastatic cancer in previous 5 years or present treatment for cancer
• Women who indicate that they are pregnant or plan to become pregnant

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

Stabilization exercises

Experimental group

Description:

The stabilization exercises program will consist of exercises for the lower back and abdomen. These exercises include various types of abdominal bracing and bridging and side bridging. The exercises will be performed in supine, sidelying, and quadruped. It involves activation of muscles, dissociation of lumbar spine movement from extremities movement and endurance.

Treatment:

Other: Rehabilitation exercises

Stabilization exercises plus electrical stimulation

Experimental group

Description:

The neuromuscular electrical stimulation is a hand-size unit that has four plastic adhesive electrical conductors known as electrodes. These electrodes are going to be placed on the skin covering the lower back muscles. They will deliver an electric current that will generate muscle contraction that resembles normal muscle contraction. This treatment will be given in addition to the stabilization exercise program.

Treatment:

Other: Rehabilitation exercises

Device: Electrical Stimulation