Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31205429›Full record

ArticleClinical medicine insights. Arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders2019

Exploring Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Intensity Effects on Multifidus Muscle Activity in Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain: An Ultrasound Imaging-Informed Investigation.

Jaclyn Megan Sions, DeJ'a Chyanna Crippen, Gregory Evan Hicks, Abdulmohsen Meshari Alroumi, Tara Jo Manal, Ryan Todd Pohlig

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical medicine insights. Arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
15citing papers in PubMed
1.7field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

15 citing papers in PubMed, 23 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Impact of Intramuscular Electrical Stimulation on Multifidus Muscle Function in Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2025
    Trial
  3. Clinical Characterization of Hip Subgroups in Geriatric Chronic Low Back Pain.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation · 2025
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. The Components of Lumbar Motor Control Are Not Inter-related.Journal of musculoskeletal & neuronal interactions · 2024
    Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Review
  12. Review
  13. Article
  14. Review
  15. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Jaclyn Megan SionsDelaware Spine Studies, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8151-1341
DeJ'a Chyanna CrippenDelaware Spine Studies, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Gregory Evan HicksDelaware Spine Studies, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Abdulmohsen Meshari AlroumiDelaware Spine Studies, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Tara Jo ManalDelaware Physical Therapy Clinic, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Ryan Todd PohligDean's Office, College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
University of Delaware · US

Funding

Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults: The Role of Co-Existing Hip ImpairmentsR01AG041202 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE · PI Gregory E Hicks · 2012 to 2026
$8.4M
NIA NIH HHS R01 AG041202
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

STUDY

designCross-sectional study.

backgroundNeuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is an effective tool for stimulating multifidus muscle contractions. Ultrasound imaging (USI) is valid and reliable for quantifying multifidus activity represented by percent thickness change from a resting to contracted state. Thus, USI may be used to help determine optimal NMES intensity.

objectivesTo explore NMES intensity effects on multifidus thickening in adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

methodsSixty patients with CLBP participated. L4/5 multifidus ultrasound images were obtained and percent thickness change from a resting to a contracted state was determined at baseline with a limb lift and during NMES application. During NMES, the examiner recorded the intensity, in milliampere, when the multifidus first started to thicken as observed with USI. The examiner also recorded the NMES intensity that resulted in no further multifidus thickening (ie, high-tolerance group) or, in cases where maximal thickening was not observed, the NMES intensity of the submaximal contraction (ie, low-tolerance group). Differences between participants with high versus low NMES tolerance were evaluated.

resultsDuring NMES, the multifidus began thickening at a higher intensity for the high-tolerance group (n = 39), that is, 34 mA, compared with the low-tolerance group (n = 21), that is, 32 mA (

conclusionsResults provide clinicians with NMES intensity targets to facilitate multifidus muscle thickening, which provides insight into muscle activity.

Indexed as

back muscleslumbosacral regionspineultrasonography

Identifiers

PMID31205429
PMCPMC6535907
OpenAlexW2945659815

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.