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Exploring Back Muscle Activities in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients Using a Large‐Area Stretchable Electrode Array With Full‐Back Coverage

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Exploring the back muscle activity in chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients is crucial for the quantitative assessment of their neuromuscular function. However, hindered by the lack of stretchable, large-area electrode arrays capable of spanning the entire back, existing studies have primarily focused on the erector spinae and multifidus muscles in the lower back. Here, we report a large-area, stretchable high-density surface electromyography (HD-sEMG) electrode array designed to cover both lower and upper back regions, enabling comprehensive characterization of back muscle activity in CLBP patients. The array comprises 64 channels arranged in a half-dumbbell configuration, inspired by the anatomical distribution of the erector spinae and multifidus muscles. Notably, this array demonstrates unprecedented operability, scalability for mass production, and reliable data acquisition capabilities. 128-channel HD-sEMG signals were acquired from both healthy controls and CLBP patients during the Biering-Sørensen test, a standardized lumbar endurance protocol. Statistical analyses of sEMG-derived metrics and topographic maps revealed significant intergroup differences in muscle activity, as well as regional variations between the lower back, upper back, and full-back segments, particularly in contraction time and fatigue-related metric changes. These findings offer novel insights into the neuromuscular dysfunction in CLBP, potentially illuminating the underlying physiological adaptations associated with CLBP.

Source: Advanced Healthcare Materials

DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202504815