Therapeutic effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation for treating patients with chronic low back pain

The Effect of Transcutaneous Electrotherapy on Lumbar Range of Motion and Paraspinal Muscle Characteristics in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) affects paraspinal muscle size, quality (e.g., fatty infiltration), range of motion (ROM), and strength. Although transcutaneous electrotherapies are used to treat CLBP, their effects on paraspinal-related outcomes are not fully known. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the overall effect of transcutaneous electrotherapies on trunk/lumbar ROM, paraspinal muscle morphology, and trunk muscle function (including strength and endurance) in CLBP patients. A systematic search of four databases and two study registers was conducted between 1 February 2022 and 15 September 2022. Two reviewers were responsible for screening and data extraction. Of the 3939 independent records screened, 10 were included in the systematic review and 2 in the meta-analysis. The results suggest there is limited evidence that both EMS and EMS plus exercise are superior to passive and active controls, respectively, for improving trunk muscle endurance. There is limited evidence that neither TENS nor mixed TENS are superior to controls for improving trunk muscle endurance. There is limited evidence that NMES is superior to passive controls for improving trunk muscle strength. The effect of transcutaneous electrotherapy on the other investigated outcomes was inconclusive. Future transcutaneous electrotherapy studies should focus on paraspinal-based outcomes that are under-studied.

The effect of phasic versus combined neuromuscular electrical stimulation using the StimaWELL 120MTRS system on multifidus muscle morphology and function in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial protocol

Background

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is used to improve muscle strength clinically when rehabilitating various musculoskeletal disorders. However, the effects of NMES on muscle morphology and function in individuals with non-specific chronic low back pain (CLBP) have scarcely been investigated. Although research links deficits in the paraspinal musculature with subjective reports of pain and disability, it is unknown if treatment with NMES can help reverse these deficits. Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to compare the effects of two muscle therapy protocols with a medium-frequency electrotherapy device (the StimaWELL 120MTRS system) on multifidus muscle morphology and function in CLBP patients. The secondary aims are to determine the effects of these protocols subjective reports of pain intensity, pain interference, disability, and catastrophizing.

Methods

A total of 30 participants with non-specific CLBP, aged 18–60, will be recruited from local orthopedic clinics and databases. Participants will be randomized (1:1) to either the phasic or combined (phasic + tonic) muscle therapy protocols on the StimaWELL 120MTRS system. Participants will undergo 20 supervised electrotherapy treatments over a 10-week period. The primary outcomes will be multifidus morphology (e.g. cross-sectional area (CSA), fat infiltration) and function (e.g., contraction measured via %thickness change from a rested to contracted state, and stiffness at rest and during contraction). Secondary outcomes will include pain intensity, interference, disability, and catastrophizing. Both primary and secondary outcomes will be obtained at baseline and at 11-weeks; secondary outcomes measured via questionnaires will also be obtained at 6-weeks, while LBP intensity will be measured before and after each treatment. Paired t-tests will be used to assess within-group changes for all primary outcome measures. A two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance will be used to assess changes in secondary outcomes over time.

Discussion

The results of this trial will help clarify the role of medium-frequency NMES on lumbar multifidus morphology and function.

Trial Registration

NCT04891692, registered retrospectively on May 18, 2021.

Therapeutic Effectiveness of AxioBionics Wearable Therapy Pain Management System in Patients with Chronic Lower Back Pain

Chronic lower back pain is one of the most common medical conditions leading to a significant decrease in quality of life. This study retrospectively analyzed whether the AxioBionics Wearable Therapy Pain Management (WTPM) System, a customized and wearable electrical stimulation device, alleviated chronic lower back pain, and improved muscular function. This study assessed self-reported pain levels using the visual analog scale before and during the use of the AxioBionics WTPM System when performing normal activities such as sitting, standing, and walking (n = 69). Results showed that both at-rest and activity-related pain were significantly reduced during treatment with the AxioBionics WTPM System (% reduction in pain: 64% and 60%, respectively; P < .05). Thus, this study suggests that the AxioBionics WTPM System is efficacious in treating chronic lower back pain even when other therapies have failed to sufficiently decrease reported pain levels.

Effectiveness of electrical stimulation for postoperative pain in patients with osteosarcoma: A systematic review protocol of clinical controlled trial

BACKGROUND

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness and safety of electrical stimulation (ES) for postoperative pain (PPP) in patients with osteosarcoma systematically.

METHODS

We will systematically search the following electronic databases from inception to the May 1, 2019: MEDILINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, Springer, and CNKI without language restrictions. All literatures of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and case-controlled studies (CCSs) of ES for PPP in patients with osteosarcoma will be included. RevMan 5.3 software (Cochrane Community; London, UK) and STATA 15.0 software (StataCorp; College Station) will be used for statistical analysis. Cochrane risk of bias will be used for methodological quality assessment for RCTs and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale will be utilized for CCSs.

RESULTS

This study will assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of ES for PPP in patients with osteosarcoma through assessing primary outcome of pain intensity and secondary outcomes of frequency of rescue analgesic use, cumulative morphine consumption, quality of recovery, as well as adverse events.

CONCLUSION

This study will provide latest evidence on effectiveness and safety of ES for PPP in patients with osteosarcoma, and may also provide guidance for both clinician and further studies.

DISSEMINATION AND ETHICS

This study does not require ethical approval, because it will not analyze the individual patient data. Its results are expected to be published in peer-reviewed journals.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42019135790.