The Assessment of Chronic Low Back Pain by Surface Electromyography.

, Han, Jae Young; , Ju, Sung Ryeol; , Choi, In Seung; , Lee, So Young; , Lee, Sam Gyu; , Rowe, Sung Man

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 2002;26(6):739-744.

Han, Jae Young , Ju, Sung Ryeol , Choi, In Seung , Lee, So Young , Lee, Sam Gyu , Rowe, Sung Man

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chonnam National University College of Medicine, Korea. lee9299@cnuh.com

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한재영·주성렬·최인성·이소영·이삼규·노성만

전남대학교 의과대학 재활의학교실

Abstract

Objective
We studied the clinical utility of surface electromyography (SEMG) for the assessment of chronic low back pain (CLBP).
Method
We compared electrical activity from electrodes placed on the 16 lumbar paraspinal areas between 25 CLBP patients and 25 control subjects in static neutral standing posture and dynamic flexion-reextension state. The CLBP patients and the control subjects were matched for age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) to adjust for any confounding effects. We analyzed amplitudes and areas of electrical activity on lumbar paraspinal muscles in neutral standing posture and dynamic flexion-reextension state.
Results
In the static neutral posture, there are increased amplitudes of electrical activity in CLBP compared with controls (p＜0.01). In the dynamic flexion-reextension state, area ratio of electrical acitivity during the extension state to electrical acitivity during flexion state are significantly decreased in CLBP compared with controls (p＜0.01). The presence of lumbar radiculopathy or the severity of LBP is not well correlated with the electrical acitivity on SEMG. The sensitivity and the specificity of SEMG are 72% and 80% respectively.
Conclusion
These results indicate that SEMG is a useful method for the assessment of CLBP. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2002; 26: 739-744)

Key Words: Surface electromyography, Chronic low back pain, Assessment