Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Chronic Low Back Pain

"In NMES group, the amplitude of the electrical current will be set at the highest level subject can tolerate.~The lumbar stabilization mode of the device will be used. This mode consists of three phases; warming, contraction and recovery phases. The duration will be set to 35 minutes. In the first 2 minutes (warming phase), frequency is 6 Hz. Contraction phase includes consecutive cycles of contractile frequency of 40 Hz for 6 seconds and the rest frequency of 4 Hz for 12 seconds, lasting a total of 30 minutes. The last 3 minutes (recovery phase) frequency is 3 Hz. The ramp up time is 2 seconds and the ramp down time is 1 second"

In sham NMES group, the amplitude of the electrical current will be set at a minimum level which does not stimulate any contraction.