Shock therapy or gym? new study pits EMS against traditional exercise for back pain
NCT ID NCT06642350
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested two ways to treat long-term low back pain in people aged 40 to 70: whole-body electrical muscle stimulation (WB-EMS) versus standard resistance training. Both methods aim to strengthen the back and reduce pain. The trial measured changes in pain and daily function over 10 weeks in 26 participants.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
26 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Jul 2024
- Finished
-
Mar 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
40 to 70 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * women and men 40-70 years old; * chronic pain in the lumbar spine (at least 50 percent of the days of the last 3 months, * average basal pain intensity (average 7 days) in the lumbar spine on NRS 0-10: ≥2.5 Exclusion Criteria: * orthopedic diagnosis (i.e. specific type of LBP); * frequent intake of analgesics (\>4 days/week); * pharmacological therapy or diseases affecting muscle metabolism (e.g., glucocorticoids); * no contraindications for WB-EMS application (e.g., epilepsy, cardiac pacemaker, thrombosis, and total endoprosthesis)
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Low back pain are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Nürnberg
Erlangen, 91052, Germany
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Radiofrequency device tested as Add-On for stubborn back pain
- Back muscles hold clues for treating recurrent low back pain
- Skip the GP? physiotherapy first for back pain put to the test
- Can yoga ease back pain when recovery looks unlikely?
- Can a second injection target the source of stubborn back pain?
- Can releasing a deep back muscle ease pain and help you breathe better?