Cramer Sports Motion Tape and Low Back Pain EMG
Condition: Low Back Pain
MeSH terms: Back Pain; Low Back Pain
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Low back pain is a problem which affects up to 70-80% of people in their lifetime. In the
      United States, it is estimated that the total direct and indirect costs of low back pain
      combined ranges from $19.6 to $118.8 billion. Recent studies have shown the importance of the
      gluteal musculature in the treatment of low back pain. It was found that the gluteus maximus
      (Gmax) is significantly more active in a low back pain population compared to a healthy
      population, indicating the low back pain population relied on the Gmax to fire more to
      overcome the gluteal weakness. A new approach to treating musculoskeletal conditions is a
      taping technique designed to target muscles and lymphatic system. Limited research is
      available for the treatment of specific conditions, including low back pain, but it is
      theorized to inhibit or facilitate the muscle, improve blood flow, reduce pain, and improve
      joint alignment. Methods: The purpose of this study is to determine the immediate and delayed
      effectiveness of Cramer® Sports Motion Tape on Gmax and lumbar paraspinal activation in a
      chronic mechanical low back pain population. A convenience sample of 20 new patients with
      current, chronic low back pain, no current neurologic signs or symptoms, no previous spinal
      surgery, no corticosteroid treatment within the last two weeks, and who are not pregnant will
      be recruited for this study. Patients will sign an informed consent, complete all initial
      paperwork. Surface electromyography will be used to quantify the activity level of the Gmax
      and lumbar paraspinals (LP). The MVIC will be estimated for each muscle group and the patient
      will perform a series of 4 randomized exercises, 5 repetitions each; Clams with Resistance,
      Standing Hip Abduction with Resistance, Sidelying Hip Abduction, and a forward bend. After
      each exercise the patient will rate "How hard they are working" on the RISE scale. Following
      the initial test, Cramer® Sports Motion Tape will be applied to the gluteal and low back
      area. After the tape is applied, the EMG exercise protocol will be repeated. The tape will be
      left on until the patient returns for their next appointment, within 24 to 48 hours, where
      they will have a delayed post-test. Patients will rate their pain, surface electrodes will be
      applied to the previous testing sites, and MVIC will be retested for each muscle group. The
      patient will perform the same protocol that was performed in the initial testing session. The
      EMG signals will be smoothed, rectified and analyzed using a root-mean-square algorithm. The
      investigators will use visual onset and offset of the EMG signal amplitude to select the
      middle 3 trials. Average activation and peak activation will be determined and compared to
      the MVIC for each muscle group, and expressed as a %MVIC. This will allow %MVIC to be
      compared and rank order among groups and muscles.
    


Intervention name(s): Cramer Sports Motion Tape
Intervention type(s): Device
Intervention description(s): lower body exercises with and without Cramer Sports Motion tape applied to the hip
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Gluteus Maximum; Gluteus Medius; TFL; EMG; Flexion-Response Phenomenon; Thera-Band; kinesiology tape