title: Effects of exercise and electrical stimulation on lumbar stabilization in asymptomatic subjects: a comparative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Segmental stabilization training and electrical stimulation are used as a treatment for patients with low back pain. There is limited information on the efficacy of two interventions in the literature. In this study, the efficacy of the two interventions on the multifidus muscle activation and fatigue, segmental stabilization training and electrical stimulation, were examined and compared.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our sample consists of 30 asymptomatic individuals, randomly assigned to one of three groups: the group that was given segmental stabilization training, the group that was given electrical stimulation and the control group that received no treatment. The muscle activity and fatigability of the multifidus were recorded by the surface electromyography before and after the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No difference is detected for any of the multifidus muscle activation and fatigue characteristics either within or between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both techniques did not improve multifidus activation capacity. An effort at submaximal and maximal level affects and increases the activity of multifidus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. sevilcuvalci@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sevil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bilgin
authors.forename: Cagrı Mesut
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Temucin
authors.forename: Gulay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nurlu
authors.forename: Derya Ozer
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Nezire
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kose
authors.forename: Arzu Guclu
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Gunduz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D055815:Young Adult