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Quantitative electromyography analysis of disc unloader brace.
1Weill Medical College of Cornell University-Hospital For Special Surgery, Hospital For Special Surgery, 535 East 70th St, New York, NY 10021, USA. lutzg@hss.edu
Pain Physician
|July 28, 2006
Summary
The Disc Unloader brace significantly reduced lumbar paraspinal activity by 41% in healthy volunteers. This suggests the brace effectively lowers intradiscal pressure, offering potential benefits for back pain management.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Spinal Health
- Medical Device Technology
Background:
- Intradiscal pressure is strongly correlated with lumbar paraspinal activity.
- Understanding factors that reduce intradiscal pressure is crucial for managing lumbar spine conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the Disc Unloader brace in reducing intradiscal pressure.
- To quantify the impact of the Disc Unloader brace on lumbar paraspinal activity.
Main Methods:
- Ten healthy volunteers (7 female, 3 male; average age 39) participated.
- Quantitative EMG was used to measure L5 paraspinal activity in full lumbar flexion, with and without the Disc Unloader brace.
- Measurements were taken three times for each condition and averaged, with reliability testing showing a 7% margin of error.
Main Results:
- Lumbar paraspinal activity (Area Under the Curve) averaged 173 +/- 27.1 microvolts without the brace.
- Lumbar paraspinal activity averaged 102 +/- 19.6 microvolts with the Disc Unloader brace.
- A statistically significant 41% reduction in paraspinal activity was observed with the brace (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
- The Disc Unloader brace effectively reduces quantitative EMG lumbar paraspinal myoelectric activity.
- This reduction in muscle activity implies a corresponding decrease in intradiscal pressures.
- The findings support the Disc Unloader brace as a tool for managing conditions related to elevated intradiscal pressure.