Comparison of sacrospinalis myoelectric activity and pain levels in patients undergoing static and intermittent lumbar traction.

The purposes of this study of low back pain patients were to determine: 1) if presence of sacrospinalis myoelectric activity is a consistent phenomenon in supine and prone positions; 2) if there is a difference between magnitudes of myoelectric activity for two types of lumbar traction (static and intermittent); and 3) if there is a difference in patient perceived pain level after traction between the two types of traction. Results show that surface electrode myoelectric activity is absent in resting supine and prone positions, there is no significant difference in magnitude of myoelectric activity between the two different types of traction, and more than 50% of patients in both traction groups experienced decreased pain after traction.