Whole-Body EMS against Back Pain

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Non-specific back pain is widespread and often chronic. EMS-Training offers a time-efficient, joint-sparing solution for treatment and prevention by specifically strengthening the core muscles – effective in just 20 minutes a week.

Non-specific back pain is particularly prevalent in high-income countries where sedentary lifestyles and a lack of physical activity are common [1, 2]. This causes muscles in the trunk area in particular to atrophy and lose strength and stabilisation power [3].

EMS-Training is a highly effective and sustainable treatment. This innovative concept, based on a modern form of electrotherapy, offers a time-efficient solution for strengthening the core muscles – both in prevention and in therapy. Numerous studies show a comparatively high level of effectiveness compared to conventional strategies for back strengthening, including the multimodal treatment programme considered the gold standard [4, 5].

 

Back pain: The most common cause of incapacity to work and early retirement

Back pain is one of the most common complaints among the population: around three quarters of all Germans suffer from back pain at least once in their lives [6]. 70–80% of back pain is pain in the lower lumbar area (low back pain, LBP) [7]. The complaints affect more women than men and mainly people in middle age between the ages of 40 and 69 [7].

Since back pain is the most common reason for being unable to work and the second most common cause of early retirement after mental illness and behavioural disorders, the economic impact is also considerable [6]. Depending on their cause, back pain is categorised as either specific or non-specific. In 80% of cases, the pain is non-specific and must be distinguished from back pain caused by a specific condition, such as a herniated disc, infection, fracture or tumour, based on a targeted medical history and physical examination. If there are no neurological symptoms, extravertebral causes or so-called ‘red flags’ (warning signs), the diagnosis of non-specific back pain can be made [6].

 

Therapy:  EMS-Training as a way out of the vicious circle

Non-specific back pain often leads to a vicious circle that hinders active pain control. In most cases, this results in chronicity. On average, two-thirds of those affected (42–75 %) report persistent symptoms after 12 months. Accordingly, avoiding chronification is the declared therapeutic goal in the treatment of non-specific back pain. Risk factors for chronification include sedentary work, low physical fitness, stress, smoking and obesity, but also psychosocial, workplace-related or iatrogenic factors [6]. Non-specific back pain is treated symptomatically and based on the quality and intensity of the pain, the degree of functional impairment and the temporal course of the symptoms (acute (< 6 weeks), subacute [6–12 weeks] and chronic (> 12 weeks) non-specific back pain).

In addition to maintaining physical activity, initial adjunctive analgesic, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options such as acupuncture, relaxation techniques, functional training, manual therapy, heat therapy, etc. can be used. Evaluating and addressing any risk factors and teaching health-conscious behaviour also play an important role in the treatment of non-specific back pain. If the symptoms persist or there is a risk of chronicity or if it already exists, national and European guidelines offer a multimodal treatment programme that is individually tailored to the patient and consists of physiotherapy, physical therapy, psychotherapy, occupational therapy and education [6]. This programme, which can be carried out in both an outpatient and inpatient setting, is currently considered the gold standard for the treatment of non-specific back pain – however, it is very costly and time-consuming.

A more time-efficient method of treating non-specific back pain, which according to study data is comparably effective, is medical electrical muscle stimulation (EMS-Training). A prospective, controlled non-randomised clinical study showed that medical EMS-Training is just as effective as the gold standard of a multimodal therapeutic approach in treating non-specific back pain – and it only takes 20 minutes a week [4].

 

Prevention: Effectiveness and motivation for lasting and holistic behavioural change

Exercise, especially strengthening and stabilising exercises for the core muscles, helps to prevent non-specific back pain. Regular training is essential to strengthen the muscles permanently [6].

With conventional training methods, it is necessary to train several times a week. This is not only time-consuming, but it also leads to increased strain on the joints and the affected musculoskeletal system. A lack of motivation is another factor that makes it particularly difficult to prevent back pain. EMS training offers an effective, particularly joint-friendly and time-efficient solution for long-term prevention – with proven effectiveness in various studies – in just 20 minutes per week [4, 5]. Personal support ensures the necessary motivation and regularity.

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References:

1. Hoy D et al. A systematic review of the global prevalence of low back pain. Arthritis and Rheumatism, 2012; 64(6): 2028–2037. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.34347. PMID: 22231424
2. Citko A et al. Sedentary lifestyle and nonspecific low back pain in medical personnel in North-East Poland. BioMed Research International, 2018: 1965807. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/1965807. PMID: 30271778
3. Bo Andersen L et al. Association between back pain and physical fitness in adolescents. Spine, 2006; 31(15): 1740–1744.
4. Konrad KL et al. The effects of whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) in comparison to a multimodal treatment concept in patients with non-specific chronic back pain – a prospective clinical intervention study. PLoS ONE, 2020; 15(8): e0236780.
5. Weissenfels A et al. Comparison of whole-body electromyostimulation versus recognized back-strengthening exercise training on chronic nonspecific low back pain: a randomized controlled study. BioMed Research International, 2019: 5745409.
6. National Guideline for Non-specific Low Back Pain, 2nd Edition, 2017, AWMF Register No.: nvl-007.
7. Bork H. Non-specific back pain. Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie up2date, 2017; 12(06): 625–641.