{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T17:17:37Z","timestamp":1791393457272,"version":"4.3.3"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,25]],"date-time":"2025-06-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1750809600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Life"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: The methodology of ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous neuromodulation (PNM) remains unclear. Objective: To determine the optimal stimulation frequency (3 Hz vs. 10 Hz) during the short-term application of US-guided PNM on the sciatic nerve, we assessed the therapeutic benefits, including pain reduction, hip passive internal rotation range of motion (IR-ROM), balance, and functionality, in patients with chronic low back pain (LBP). Methods: Forty patients with LBP were randomly assigned to two groups, each receiving isolated percutaneous electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve. One group received stimulation at 3 Hz, while the other received stimulation at 10 Hz. Pain intensity, hip passive IR-ROM, hip muscle strength, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were measured before and one week after the intervention. Results: Both interventions significantly reduced pain and improved ROM, balance, and functionality after one week (p = 0.001). However, significant between-group (treatment \u00d7 time) differences were observed for pain intensity (p = 0.001) and flexion strength in the non-intervention limb (p = 0.01), though the effect size was small (\u03b72 = 0.1). Conclusions: US-guided PNM applied to the sciatic nerve was more effective at 3 Hz than at 10 Hz in relieving pain intensity in patients with LBP.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/life15071005","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,25]],"date-time":"2025-06-25T03:53:02Z","timestamp":1750823582000},"page":"1005","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Optimal Low-Frequency Parameter of Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Patients with Lower Back Pain: A Pilot Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3989-8167","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Roberto","family":"San-Emeterio-Iglesias","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy, University Gimbernat-Cantabria, Aurelio Garc\u00eda Cantalapiedra Street, s\/n, 39300 Torrelavega, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6598-829X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carlos","family":"Romero-Morales","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports, European University of Madrid, Villaviciosa de Od\u00f3n, 28670 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Francisco","family":"Minaya-Mu\u00f1oz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"MVClinic Institute, 28600 Madrid, Spain"},{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy, CEU San Pablo University, 28925 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8499-9760","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Blanca","family":"De-la-Cruz-Torres","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy, University of Seville, Avicena Street, 41009 Seville, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"392","DOI":"10.1155\/2010\/252695","article-title":"Managing low back pain in the primary care setting: The know-do gap","volume":"15","author":"Scott","year":"2010","journal-title":"Pain Res. 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