Enhancing Functional Ability in Chronic Nonspecific Lower Back Pain: The Impact of EMG-Guided Trunk Stabilization Exercises

• Published in: Healthcare (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 15; p. 2153
• Main Authors: Porwal, Shivani, Rizvi, Moattar Raza, Sharma, Ankita, Ahmad, Fuzail, Alshahrani, Mastour Saeed, Raizah, Abdullah, Shaik, Abdul Rahim, Seyam, Mohamed K, Miraj, Mohammad, Alkhamis, Batool Abdulelah, Mukherjee, Debjani, Ahmad, Irshad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 28.07.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Back pain; Biofeedback; Biomechanics; Care and treatment; chronic nonspecific lower back pain; Complications and side effects; Diagnosis; Electromyography; electromyography biofeedback; Evaluation; Exercise; Exercise therapy; lifestyle measures; Low back pain; Muscle function; muscle strength; Osteoporosis; Patient outcomes; Physical fitness; Proprioception; Range of motion; Statistical significance; trunk rotation; trunk-stabilization exercise; Saudi Arabia; muscle strength; chronic nonspecific lower back pain; trunk-stabilization exercise; behavior modification; lifestyle measures; trunk rotation; electromyography biofeedback
• ISSN: 2227-9032; 2227-9032
• DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11152153

Nonspecific lower back pain (NSLBP) is described as pain that is not caused by an identifiable, well-known disease, such as infection, tumor, osteoporosis, fracture, structural deformity, inflammatory condition, radicular syndrome, or cauda equina syndrome. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of EMG-guided trunk stabilization exercises on functional disability associated with LBP. A single-blinded pre- and post-test experimental comparative design was used for this study. Fifty individuals with chronic NSLBP were screened for inclusion criteria. Of these, forty were randomly grouped into the EMG group receiving trunk-stability exercises with electromyography biofeedback and non-EMG group receiving trunk-stabilization exercises without EMG biofeedback. Participants performed five trunk-stability exercises 3 days a week for 4 weeks. The intensity of pain, range of motion, functional disability, and balance were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks. Both techniques indicated a significant effect on chronic NSLBP; however, trunk-stability exercises combined with EMG biofeedback produced better results in alleviating the intensity of pain, increasing the range of motion, and improving functional disabilities and static balance. The present study confirms that trunk-stability exercises with EMG biofeedback can be practiced safely, contributes to a greater boost in neuromuscular efficiency in the lumbar flexors and extensors, and is effective in modifying functional disability for patients with NSLBP.