📄 Research Paper: Deep Lumbar Muscle Activation via NMES

Title: Activation of Deep Lumbar Stabilizing Muscles by Transcutaneous Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

Authors: Seung Ok Baek, MD; Sang Ho Ahn, MD, PhD; Rodney Jones, MD; Hee Kyung Cho, MD; Gil Su Jung, MS; Yun Woo Cho, MD; Hyeong Jun Tak, MD

Institutions: Yeungnam University College of Medicine (Korea), University of Kansas School of Medicine (USA), Catholic University of Daegu (Korea)

📌 Abstract

This study evaluates the effect of transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on the activation of deep lumbar stabilizing muscles including lumbar multifidus (LM), transverse abdominis (TrA), and obliquus internus (OI). Using real-time ultrasound imaging (RUSI), the study found that NMES applied to L4-L5 paraspinal regions significantly increased the thickness of these muscles, indicating successful activation. The findings support the use of NMES as a clinical tool for improving spinal stability in patients with low back pain or weak deep muscle activation.