Effects on Perceived Pain and Somatosensory Function After Transcutaneous Neuromodulation in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Quasi-Experimental Study with a Crossover Intervention

Francisco Selva-Sarzo¹Eleuterio A. Sánchez Romero^2*Juan Nicolás Cuenca Zaldivar³Beatriz García-Haba¹Claudio Akiyama⁴Rob Sillevis⁵Samuel Fernández-Carnero³

• ¹University of Valencia, Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain
• ²European University of Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Spain
• ³University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
• ⁴Universidad de Flores, Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• ⁵Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida, United States

Transcutaneous magnetic neuromodulation is a noninvasive technique that may influence pain perception and mobility by modulating epidermal afferents and autonomic nervous system activity. However, its effects on chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) remain unclear.This study evaluated the effects of transcutaneous neuromodulation applied to the lumbar spine on the pressure pain threshold (PPT) and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (DROM) in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP).A single-group prospective cohort study with crossover intervention was conducted between March 2022 and September 2022. A convenience sample of 39 patients with CNSLBP was included in this study. Each participant received two interventions in a randomized sequence: transcutaneous neuromodulation with magnetic tape particles (TMP) and placebo kinesiology tape (KT). A one-week washout period was implemented Information Classification: General (0.54, 0.735)]. Pairwise leg comparisons were not significant (p>0.05). For the pressure pain threshold, significant differences (p<0.05) with moderate to large effect sizes were observed. PPTs varied by vertebral level, with significant differences in site-specific comparisons between specific levels.Conclusions: Transcutaneous neuromodulation using magnetic tape applied to the lumbar spine reduces perceived pain and increases ankle dorsiflexion range of motion in patients with CNSLBP. These findings suggest that epidermal afferent modulation may contribute to pain relief and motor function enhancement, providing a novel approach for noninvasive pain management.