Cramer Sports Motion Tape and Low Back Pain EMG

Low back pain is a problem which affects up to 70-80% of people in their lifetime. In the
United States, it is estimated that the total direct and indirect costs of low back pain
combined ranges from $19.6 to $118.8 billion. Recent studies have shown the importance of
the gluteal musculature in the treatment of low back pain. It was found that the gluteus
maximus (Gmax) is significantly more active in a low back pain population compared to a
healthy population, indicating the low back pain population relied on the Gmax to fire more
to overcome the gluteal weakness. A new approach to treating musculoskeletal conditions is a
taping technique designed to target muscles and lymphatic system. Limited research is
available for the treatment of specific conditions, including low back pain, but it is
theorized to inhibit or facilitate the muscle, improve blood flow, reduce pain, and improve
joint alignment. Methods: The purpose of this study is to determine the immediate and
delayed effectiveness of Cramer® Sports Motion Tape on Gmax and lumbar paraspinal activation
in a chronic mechanical low back pain population. A convenience sample of 20 new patients
with current, chronic low back pain, no current neurologic signs or symptoms, no previous
spinal surgery, no corticosteroid treatment within the last two weeks, and who are not
pregnant will be recruited for this study. Patients will sign an informed consent, complete
all initial paperwork. Surface electromyography will be used to quantify the activity level
of the Gmax and lumbar paraspinals (LP). The MVIC will be estimated for each muscle group
and the patient will perform a series of 4 randomized exercises, 5 repetitions each; Clams
with Resistance, Standing Hip Abduction with Resistance, Sidelying Hip Abduction, and a
forward bend. After each exercise the patient will rate "How hard they are working" on the
RISE scale. Following the initial test, Cramer® Sports Motion Tape will be applied to the
gluteal and low back area. After the tape is applied, the EMG exercise protocol will be
repeated. The tape will be left on until the patient returns for their next appointment,
within 24 to 48 hours, where they will have a delayed post-test. Patients will rate their
pain, surface electrodes will be applied to the previous testing sites, and MVIC will be
retested for each muscle group. The patient will perform the same protocol that was
performed in the initial testing session. The EMG signals will be smoothed, rectified and
analyzed using a root-mean-square algorithm. The investigators will use visual onset and
offset of the EMG signal amplitude to select the middle 3 trials. Average activation and
peak activation will be determined and compared to the MVIC for each muscle group, and
expressed as a %MVIC. This will allow %MVIC to be compared and rank order among groups and
muscles.