Similar Pain Intensity Reductions and Trunk Strength Improvements Following Whole-Body Electromyostimulation vs. Whole-Body Vibration vs. Conventional Back-Strengthening Training in Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain Patients: A Three-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial

Micke F, Weißenfels A, Wirtz N, von Stengel S, Doermann U, Kohl M, Kleinoeder H, Donath L, Kemmler W (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Frontiers in Physiology Frontiers Media

Book Volume: 12

Article Number: 664991

DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.664991

Abstract

The aim of this multicenter trial was to compare the effects of whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) and whole-body vibration (WBV) with conventional back-strengthening training (CT) on changes in mean back pain intensity (MPI) and trunk strength in patients suffering from chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP). Two-hundred and forty CNLBP patients (40–70 years; 62% female) were randomly assigned to three intervention arms (WB-EMS: n = 80 vs. WBV: n = 80 vs. CT: n = 80). All training intervention programs were performed for 12 weeks in their usual commercial training setting. Before and during the last 4 weeks of the intervention, MPI was recorded using a 4-week pain diary. Additionally, maximal isometric trunk extension and -flexion strength was assessed on the BackCheck® machine. A moderate but significant decrease of MPI was observed in all groups (WB-EMS: 29.7 ± 39.1% (SMD 0.50) vs. WBV: 30.3 ± 39.3% (SMD 0.57) vs. CT: 30.5 ± 39.6% (SMD 0.59); p < 0.001). Similar findings were observed for maximal isometric strength parameters with a significant increase in all groups (extension: WB-EMS: 17.1 ± 25.5% vs. WBV: 16.2 ± 23.6% vs. CT: 21.6 ± 27.5%; p < 0.001; flexion: WB-EMS: 13.3 ± 25.6% vs. WBV: 13.9 ± 24.0% vs. CT: 13.9 ± 25.4%; p < 0.001). No significant interaction effects for MPI (p = 0.920) and strength parameters (extension: p = 0.436; flexion: p = 0.937) were observed. WB-EMS, WBV, and CT are comparably effective in improving MPI and trunk strength. However, training volume of WB-EMS was 43 or 62% lower, compared with CT and WBV.

Authors with CRIS profile

Anja Weißenfels Lehrstuhl für Medizinische Physik und Mikrogewebetechnik Simon von Stengel Lehrstuhl für Medizinische Physik und Mikrogewebetechnik Wolfgang Kemmler Lehrstuhl für Medizinische Physik und Mikrogewebetechnik

Involved external institutions

Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln DE Germany (DE) Hochschule Furtwangen DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Micke, F., Weißenfels, A., Wirtz, N., von Stengel, S., Doermann, U., Kohl, M.,... Kemmler, W. (2021). Similar Pain Intensity Reductions and Trunk Strength Improvements Following Whole-Body Electromyostimulation vs. Whole-Body Vibration vs. Conventional Back-Strengthening Training in Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain Patients: A Three-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial. Frontiers in Physiology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.664991

MLA:

Micke, Florian, et al. "Similar Pain Intensity Reductions and Trunk Strength Improvements Following Whole-Body Electromyostimulation vs. Whole-Body Vibration vs. Conventional Back-Strengthening Training in Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain Patients: A Three-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial." Frontiers in Physiology 12 (2021).

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