Combined Double-Coil and Handheld rPMS in Low Back Pain: An Observational Case Series Based on Routine Clinical...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Low back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent, yet effective treatments remain a challenge.
• Evidence for repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) in LBP is limited.
• A combined static double-coil and dynamic handheld rPMS protocol may offer enhanced therapeutic benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and feasibility of a combined rPMS protocol for LBP.
• To assess changes in pain intensity, disability, and quality of life.

Main Methods:

• Observational case series of 37 patients with LBP.
• Prospective collection of routine clinical data.
• Combined static double-coil lumbar and dynamic handheld lower-limb rPMS.
• Assessment at baseline, post-treatment, and 1-month follow-up.
• Analysis included minimal clinically important difference (MCID) thresholds.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in pain (62.5% post-treatment, 87.5% follow-up) and disability (86.8% post-treatment, 92.1% follow-up).
• Quality of life scores approximately doubled.
• High MCID responder rates and clinically meaningful within-group improvements observed.
• The combined rPMS approach was feasible and well tolerated.

Conclusions:

• The combined rPMS protocol demonstrated feasibility and tolerability in clinical practice.
• Clinically meaningful improvements in pain, function, and quality of life were observed within groups.
• Findings are exploratory due to the single-arm design; further controlled studies are warranted to confirm effectiveness.