BACKGROUND: As a local vibration therapy, deep muscle stimulation therapy can effectively relieve the pain and functional limitation caused by traction or fatigue, lactic acid accumulation, or fascia adhesion. However, less is reported on its effect on chronic non-specific low back pain. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of deep muscle stimulation therapy on the changes of psoas surface electromyography as well as spatiotemporal and kinetic gait parameters in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. METHODS: This was a single-blind randomized controlled trial. A total of 102 patients with chronic non-specific low back pain admitted to Yancheng No. 1 People's Hospital from February 2019 to June 2020 were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups (n = 51 per group): a control group and an observation group. Patients in the control group received a traditional lumbar stabilization exercise, and patients in the observation group received deep muscle stimulation therapy based on the lumbar stabilization exercise. Clinical efficacy, pain degree, lumbar spine function, psoas surface electromyography changes, spatiotemporal and kinetic gait parameters, quality of life, and adverse reactions were statistically analyzed before treatment, 1 and 6 months after treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The overall efficiency of the observation group (96%) was higher than that of the control group (82%; p < 0.05). After 1 and 6 months of treatment, the visual analog scale scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group (p < 0.05). The maximal electromyographic value of the multifidus and musculi rotatores at 60 degree anteflexion, 90 degree abduction, and 45 degree extension was significantly higher in the observation group than the control group (p < 0.05). The step length symmetry index, foot deflection angle symmetry index, standing relative index, initial double support vertical ground reaction force, single support phase vertical ground reaction force, and terminal double support vertical ground reaction force were lower in the observation group than the control group (p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the Oswestry Dysfunction Index was lower (p < 0.05), and the SF-36 score was higher in the observation group (p < 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group and control group were 3.9% (2/51) and 5.9% (3/51), respectively, and there was no significant difference (p > 0.05). To conclude, deep muscle stimulation therapy can relieve pain, restore lumbar function and improve gait in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain.

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