{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,16]],"date-time":"2026-09-16T21:11:38Z","timestamp":1789593098796,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"14","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,14]],"date-time":"2023-07-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1689292800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Chronic low back pain (CLBP) affects paraspinal muscle size, quality (e.g., fatty infiltration), range of motion (ROM), and strength. Although transcutaneous electrotherapies are used to treat CLBP, their effects on paraspinal-related outcomes are not fully known. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the overall effect of transcutaneous electrotherapies on trunk\/lumbar ROM, paraspinal muscle morphology, and trunk muscle function (including strength and endurance) in CLBP patients. A systematic search of four databases and two study registers was conducted between 1 February 2022 and 15 September 2022. Two reviewers were responsible for screening and data extraction. Of the 3939 independent records screened, 10 were included in the systematic review and 2 in the meta-analysis. The results suggest there is limited evidence that both EMS and EMS plus exercise are superior to passive and active controls, respectively, for improving trunk muscle endurance. There is limited evidence that neither TENS nor mixed TENS are superior to controls for improving trunk muscle endurance. There is limited evidence that NMES is superior to passive controls for improving trunk muscle strength. The effect of transcutaneous electrotherapy on the other investigated outcomes was inconclusive. Future transcutaneous electrotherapy studies should focus on paraspinal-based outcomes that are under-studied.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm12144680","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,14]],"date-time":"2023-07-14T08:40:06Z","timestamp":1689324006000},"page":"4680","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["The Effect of Transcutaneous Electrotherapy on Lumbar Range of Motion and Paraspinal Muscle Characteristics in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Daniel","family":"Wolfe","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department Health Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6126-7310","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Brent","family":"Rosenstein","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department Health Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maryse","family":"Fortin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department Health Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada"},{"name":"PERFORM Centre, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada"},{"name":"Centre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en R\u00e9adaptation (CRIR), Montreal, QC H4B 1T3, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2028","DOI":"10.1002\/art.34347","article-title":"A systematic review of the global prevalence of low back pain","volume":"64","author":"Hoy","year":"2012","journal-title":"Arthritis Rheum."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e031749","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2019-031749","article-title":"Examining the effects of low back pain and mental health symptoms on healthcare utilisation and costs: A protocol for a population-based cohort study","volume":"9","author":"Wong","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"656","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.299.6.656","article-title":"Expenditures and Health Status Among Adults with Back and Neck Problems","volume":"299","author":"Martin","year":"2008","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.2519\/jospt.2008.2658","article-title":"Effect of stabilization training on multifidus muscle cross-sectional area among young elite cricketers with low back pain","volume":"38","author":"Hides","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. 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