| Title: |
Neurofunctional Assessments in Lumbar Spondylosis: Outcomes After Rehabilitation Treatment |
| Authors: |
Andreea Ancuta Talinga; Roxana Ramona Onofrei; Ada-Maria Codreanu; Alexandra Laura Mederle; Veronica Aurelia Romanescu; Marius-Zoltan Rezumes; Oana Suciu; Dan-Andrei Korodi; Claudia Borza |
| Source: |
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology ; Volume 11 ; Issue 1 ; Pages: 114 |
| Publisher Information: |
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Collection: |
MDPI Open Access Publishing |
| Subject Terms: |
lumbar spondylosis; low back pain; nerve conduction studies; electromyography; rehabilitation; exercise therapy; tibial nerve; peroneal nerve; nerve conduction velocity; muscle activation; chronic pain; conservative treatment |
| Description: |
Background: Lumbar spondylosis is a frequent cause of chronic low back pain, often associated with radiculopathy. Although imaging evaluation is widely used, it does not always reflect the degree of functional impairment of the nerve roots. Electrophysiological assessments, such as nerve conduction studies (NCS) and surface electromyography (sEMG), can provide additional information on neuromuscular function under conservative treatment. Methods: This quasi-experimental study included 60 patients with lumbar spondylosis and 25 healthy subjects, who underwent clinical, imaging, and electrophysiological assessments. NCS and sEMG parameters were assessed in the patient group before and six months after rehabilitation treatment. The control group was assessed only once, at baseline. We analyzed the nerve conduction velocity of the tibial and peroneal nerves and the sEMG activity of the tibialis anterior muscle bilaterally. Statistical analysis used nonparametric tests, Spearman’s coefficient, and Hodges–Lehmann estimates. Results: Compared to the control group, patients presented increased residual latencies and reduced CMAP amplitude and motor conduction velocity values (p < 0.001). After rehabilitation treatment, significant improvements in NCS parameters were observed, with decreased latencies and increased CMAP amplitude and motor conduction velocity bilaterally (p < 0.001). Also, sEMG amplitude and recruitment pattern scores increased significantly at the 6-month follow-up (p ≤ 0.004). Correlations between electrophysiological parameters and the severity of imaging changes were limited, with modest associations for left tibial latencies (ρ = 0.401–0.467; p < 0.050). Conclusions: In patients with lumbar spondylosis, rehabilitation treatment was associated with functional improvements in nerve conduction velocity parameters and muscle activity. |
| Document Type: |
text |
| File Description: |
application/pdf |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
Kinesiology and Biomechanics; https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11010114 |
| DOI: |
10.3390/jfmk11010114 |
| Availability: |
https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11010114 |
| Rights: |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.EFCDDA8 |
| Database: |
BASE |