Paraspinal Muscles

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the effects and safety of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in adults with myofascial low back pain. Eligible participants will receive TENS treatment 5 times per week for 4 weeks. Pain intensity and functional outcomes will be assessed at baseline and weekly during the 4-week treatment period, and adverse events will be recorded.

This multicenter, assessor-blinded, two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial (N = 314) will compare the efficacy and safety of a 6-week multidimensional exercise program plus usual pharmacological care (experimental arm) versus usual pharmacological care alone (control arm) in adults ≥ 60 years with chronic non-specific low-back pain (LBP) and imaging evidence of paraspinal muscle degeneration. The primary endpoint is change in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at 12 months. Secondary endpoints include pain VAS, JOA score, recurrence rate, and patient satisfaction measured repeatedly to 12 months. Advanced MRI radiomics and machine-learning algorithms will be used to build a "paraspinal muscle imaging-function-prognosis" prediction model and an open-access web tool for risk stratification. The study will generate a standardized, evidence-based non-operative care pathway for chronic LBP driven by paraspinal muscle degeneration

The goal of this observational study is to learn about the role of pre-operative paraspinal muscle atrophy in outcomes of lumbar spine fusion surgeries in patients with degenerative lumbar spine diseases. The main question it aims to answer is: Does paraspinal muscle atrophy worsen lumbar spine fusion surgeries outcomes? Participants undergoing lumbar spine fusion surgeries as part of their treatment for degenerative lumbar spine diseases will answer survey questions about their low back pain and daily activities for 1 year.