About this trial
Low back pain is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal conditions worldwide and is a leading cause of disability and reduced quality of life. Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP), which has no identifiable underlying pathology, accounts for the majority of low back pain cases and often requires a multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach.
Body awareness-based exercises aim to improve postural control, movement quality, and the individual's perception of bodily sensations, and have been shown to be beneficial in chronic pain management. Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) is a non-invasive modality that enhances neuromuscular activation and may support functional recovery when combined with exercise interventions.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of EMS-combined body awareness exercises on pain intensity, functional disability, and body awareness in individuals with non-specific low back pain. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving EMS-assisted body awareness training or a control group receiving standard body awareness exercises. Outcome measures will be assessed before and after the intervention period.
This study aims to provide evidence on whether the addition of EMS to body awareness-based rehabilitation leads to superior clinical outcomes compared to body awareness exercises alone in individuals with non-specific low back pain.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Aged between 18 and 65 years
Diagnosed with non-specific low back pain for at least 3 months
Pain intensity of ≥4 on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
Ability to understand and follow exercise instructions
Disqualifiers
Specific causes of low back pain (e.g., disc herniation with neurological deficit, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, fracture, infection, tumor)
History of spinal surgery within the last 12 months
Known neurological disorders affecting movement or sensation
Diagnosed rheumatological or inflammatory diseases (e.g., ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis)
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- EMS-Assisted Body Awareness Exercises
- Exercises
Treatment groups
Locations
Sponsors and collaborators
Recep Tayyip Erdogan University
Lead sponsor
İstanbul Yeni Yüzyıl Üniversitesi
Collaborator