Percutaneous Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

Summary

Chronic low back pain is a common musculoskeletal condition affects the general population. Low back pain constitutes a major burden to health care system and society. Several authors have found that the deep abdominal muscles and multifidus are affected in low back pain. Dry needling has shown improve the cross-sectional area of the multifidus. Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation has shown reduce pain in several conditions. There are not studies that had investigated the impact of percutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (PNMES) in the deep muscles in patients with chronic low back pain.

Hypothesis: PNMES in the multifidus muscle plus motor control exercise program in patients with chronic low back pain is better than sham PNMES plus exercise and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) plus exercise

Conditions

• Low Back Pain

Interventions

OTHER

Percutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (PNMES) plus motor control exercise program

The technique consists of a muscular stimulation of the deep lumbar multifidus by means of a TENS current applied through four dry needling or acupuncture needles introduced by ultrasound guidance in said muscle 30 minutes. This will add to a protocol of motor control exercises for deep abdominal and lumbar muscles.

OTHER

Sham PNMES (introducing the needle) plus motor control exercise program

The same procedure will be performed as in the experimental treatment, but in this case, the electric current will be placebo and only the first 15 seconds will slightly notice it. This will add to a protocol of motor control exercises for deep abdominal and lumbar muscles.

OTHER

TENS plus motor control exercise program

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation will be applied through 4 patches / adhesives placed in your lower back for 30 minutes. This will add to a protocol of motor control exercises for deep abdominal and lumbar muscles.

OTHER

Sham PNMES (without inserting the needle) plus motor control exercise program

The same procedure will be performed as in the experimental treatment, but in this case, the needle will not be inserted and the electric current will be placebo and only the first 15 seconds will slightly notice it. This will add to a protocol of motor control exercises for deep abdominal and lumbar muscles.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Josue Fernández-Carnero, PhD · Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-04-10

Primary Completion

2024-06-10

Completion

2024-12-10

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations