Surface-electromyography signals from patients with lumbar disc herniation before and after core stability exercise therapy

Abstract

Objective To analyze the surface-electromyography (sEMG) signals of patients with lumbar disc herniation before and after core stability exercise therapy.Methods Thirty-eight cases diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation were randomly divided into a control group (n =19) and an experimental group (n =19) using a random number table.The former was given two weeks' conventional traction physiotherapy,while the latter was given another two weeks of core stability exercise of lumbar and dorsal muscles after the conventional treatment.All of the patients were assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and each was given a Japanese orthopedic association (JOA) score,sEMGs were recorded before and after 4 weeks of treatment.Results After treatment,average VAS scores[(1.11 ±0.74) and (0.95 ±0.62) respectively] and JOA scores[(21.05 ±3.08) and (23.47 ±2.04) respectively] in the control and experimental group both had improved significantly compared to that before treatment (P ＜ 0.01).The average JOA score in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P ＜ 0.01) after the treatment.After treatment of 4 weeks,erector spinae median frequency (MF) values(84.84 ± 12.78) and erector spinae average amplitude (AEMG) value (108.94 ± 24.70) in the experimental group were significantly improved(P ＜ 0.05),so did the multifidus muscles MF value(95.63 ± 16.35) of affected side.There was no significant difference between the affected and unaffected side (P ＞ 0.05).Moreover,the MF values of the experimental group were significantly higher than that the control group (P ＜ 0.05) after treatment.There was significant difference between the average AEMG values of erector spinae of affected side before and after treatment (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Core stability exercise can further alleviate the symptoms of lumbar disc herniation after conventional traction physiotherapy.It improves the fatigue tolerance of the back's core muscles and relieves functional imbalance of the multifidus muscles.However,the time of therapy should be lengthened to study its effect on strengthening lumbar muscles. Key words: Lumbar disc herniation; Lumbar muscles; Core stability exercise; Surface electromyography