EFFECTS OF WHOLE-BODY ELECTROMYOSTIMULATION TRAINING ON PAIN, FUNCTIONAL DISABILITY, AND ENDURANCE IN INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN

Abstract

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder associated with persistent pain, functional limitations, impaired trunk muscle endurance, and reduced physical functioning. Whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) has emerged as a time-efficient adjunct to exercise-based rehabilitation; however, its effectiveness when combined with conventional physiotherapy remains insufficiently established.

Objective: To compare the effects of WB-EMS combined with conventional physiotherapy and conventional physiotherapy alone on pain intensity, functional disability, and trunk muscle endurance in individuals with CLBP.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted over a six-month study period among 48 individuals aged 20–40 years with CLBP. Participants were randomly allocated to either a WB-EMS group (n = 24), receiving WB-EMS combined with low-intensity exercises and conventional physiotherapy (CPT), or a CPT group (n = 24), receiving stretching, strengthening, and postural correction exercises. Both groups received treatment twice weekly for 12 weeks. Pain intensity, functional disability, and trunk muscle endurance were assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and standardized trunk endurance tests, respectively. Data were analyzed using appropriate non-parametric statistical procedures.

Results: Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in pain intensity, functional disability, and trunk muscle endurance following the intervention (p < 0.001). Between-group analysis demonstrated significantly greater improvements in pain intensity (p = 0.010) and functional disability (p < 0.001) in the WB-EMS group compared with the CPT group. Significant between-group differences were also observed in flexor endurance (p < 0.001), extensor endurance (p < 0.001), and left-side bridge endurance (p = 0.010). However, no significant between-group difference was observed in right-side bridge endurance (p = 0.557).

Conclusion: Both rehabilitation approaches produced significant improvements in clinical outcomes among individuals with CLBP. However, the addition of WB-EMS to conventional physiotherapy resulted in superior improvements in pain, functional disability, and selected measures of trunk muscle endurance compared with conventional physiotherapy alone. WB-EMS may therefore represent a beneficial adjunct to conventional rehabilitation for improving clinical and functional outcomes in individuals with CLBP.