Previous studies have demonstrated that patients with low-back pain have increases in absolute electromyographic (EMG) activity levels in the lumbar paraspinal muscles during motion. In the present study, EMG, skin resistance, and supine lumbar lordosis measurements in patients with low-back somatic dysfunction were evaluated. The 40 subjects in the study ranged in age from 22 to 36 years. Twenty had low-back pain and 20 were pain-free (controls). In each group, 10 subjects were assigned randomly to receive osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), which consisted of high-velocity, low-amplitude techniques for the entire axial skeleton and pelvis. The OMT subjects had measurements taken before and after treatment, while the control group was measured before and after a period of rest. All subjects were re-evaluatted seven days later. There were significant decreases in EMG activity during motion and in skin resistance levels in the low-back pain treatment group, as well as significant decrease in EMG levels in the control OMT group. No significant differences were found in the low-back pain and control nontreatment groups.
Reprinted from JAOA, The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. Copyright American Osteopathic Association. Permission given with the consent of the American Osteopathic Association.

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