Whole-Body Electromyostimulation Versus Therapeutic Resistance Exercise for the Treatment of Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain (BackDFGET)

January 29, 2026 updated by: University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School

Whole-Body Electromyostimulation Versus Medical Therapeutic Training (MTT) Resistance Exercise for the Treatment of Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain in Middle-Aged to Older Cohort With Low-Back Pain.

Non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCBP) is considered the leading cause of impairment of normal, symptom-free life (disability-adjusted life years - DALYs). NSCBP force more people out of work than diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, respiratory disease, asthma and cancer together. Strength and stability-oriented training programs in particular can lead to a significant improvement in NSCBP. However, back pain patients often cite time limitations and kinesiophobia (fear of movements) as the main reasons for their physical inactivity . The time-effective, joint-friendly and highly customizable whole-body electromyostimulation technology (WB-EMS) has been shown to be an effective alternative to conventional back training in two recently published clinical studies Following the successful implementation of this concept, dissemination of the positive results and testing of suitable settings for its implementation, the next step is to adapt and implement the concept as part of a knowledge transfer project in outpatient rehabilitation settings. The present project thus aimed to compare the effect of WB-EMS versus medical therapeutic therapy (MTT) using dedicated resistances devices as a recognized safe and effective treatment for low back pain.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
26

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Germany
      • Erlangen, Germany, 91052
        • Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Nürnberg

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • women and men 40-70 years old;
  • chronic pain in the lumbar spine (at least 50 percent of the days of the last 3 months,
  • average basal pain intensity (average 7 days) in the lumbar spine on NRS 0-10: ≥2.5

Exclusion Criteria:

  • orthopedic diagnosis (i.e. specific type of LBP);
  • frequent intake of analgesics (>4 days/week);
  • pharmacological therapy or diseases affecting muscle metabolism (e.g., glucocorticoids);
  • no contraindications for WB-EMS application (e.g., epilepsy, cardiac pacemaker, thrombosis, and total endoprosthesis)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Whole-body electromyostimulation
WB-EMS 1.5x 20 min/week for 10 weeks
Other: Whole-body electrostimulation
10 weeks of WB-EMS 1.5x 20 min/week
Other Names:
  • WB-EMS
Active Comparator: Medical training therapy (MTT)
MTT 2x 45 min/week for 10 weeks
Other: Medical Training Therapy
10 weeks of MTT 2x 45 min/week
Other Names:
  • MTT

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes of non-specific low back pain from baseline to 10 week follow-up assessment as determined by the numeric rating scale 0-10
Time Frame: From enrollment (baseline assessment) to the end of treatment at 10 weeks"
Numeric rating scale 1-10: Zero is equivalent to no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain."
From enrollment (baseline assessment) to the end of treatment at 10 weeks"

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes of disability from baseline to 10 week follow-up assessment as determine by the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ)
Time Frame: From enrollment (baseline) to the end of treatment at 10 weeks"
RMDQ: 24-item Score that scored physical ability and activities of daily living (yes vs. no). The higher the score, the worse the patient's back-related functional status.
From enrollment (baseline) to the end of treatment at 10 weeks"
Changes of back extension strength from baseline to 10 week follow-up assessment as determined by the Dr. Wolf back-check device
Time Frame: "From enrollment (baseline assessment) to the end of treatment at 10 weeks"
Dr. Wolf back-check: Isometric test device for trunk strength
"From enrollment (baseline assessment) to the end of treatment at 10 weeks"
Changes of trunk flexion strength from baseline to 10 week follow-up assessment as determined by the Dr. Wolf back-check device
Time Frame: From enrollment (baseline assessment) to the end of treatment at 10 weeks"
Dr. Wolf Back check: Isometric test device for trunk strength
From enrollment (baseline assessment) to the end of treatment at 10 weeks"
Changes of lean body mass from baseline to 10 week assessment as determined by bio impedance assessment (BIA)
Time Frame: From enrollment (baseline assessment) to the end of treatment at 10 weeks
BIA: Assessment of lean body mass by direct-segmental multi-frequency bioimpedance analysis using InBody 770 (Seoul, Korea)
From enrollment (baseline assessment) to the end of treatment at 10 weeks
Changes of body fat from baseline to 10 week follow-up assessment as determine by bio impedance analysis
Time Frame: From enrollment (baseline assessment) to the end of treatment at 10 weeks
BIA: Assessment of lean body mass by direct-segmental multi-frequency bio impedance analysis using InBody 770 (Seoul, Korea)
From enrollment (baseline assessment) to the end of treatment at 10 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Rehamed Center Forchheim, Germany

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Wolfgang Kemmler, PhD, Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Nürnberg, Nürnberg, Germany

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
November 30, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 11, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 11, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 15, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
January 30, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 29, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • WBEMS_Back_Outpatient

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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