{
  "abstract": "Background context\n\nLow back pain (LBP) affects over 619 million people globally and is the leading cause of disability. Most cases are non-specific and linked to muscle impairment, yet effective, non-invasive treatments remain limited.Purpose\n\nTo evaluate the impact of back-targeted electromagnetic muscle stimulation (HIFEM) therapy on pain, disability, and function in patients with LBP.Design\n\nUncontrolled retrospective cohort study.Patients and methods\n\nPatients (n=25; 72% female) with LBP who received a study device treatment were 33-76 years old. Because treatment was tailored to individual needs, many patients received therapies to other body regions. Medical records of patients who received at least one study device treatment on low back between April 1, 2024 and April 30, 2025 and completed Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before and after the last treatment were analyzed, with a 1-month (±14 days) interval between baseline and post-treatment assessments.Outcome measures\n\nThe outcome measures included VAS, Pain Disability Questionnaire (PDQ), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, and iliopsoas muscle strength measurements.Results\n\nSignificant absolute and percentage reductions were observed in VAS (mean change: -5.2 points; -75.7%, 95% CI [-83.4, -63.1]), PDQ (-49.3 points; -66.1%, 95% CI [55.1, 80.9]), and ODI (-11.9 points; -61.0%, 95% CI [44.7, 78.7]) scores (all p < 0.0001). The reductions in VAS, PDQ and ODI scores surpassed established minimal clinically important differences (MCID). Iliopsoas muscle strength improved by 124.8% post-treatment in the subgroup treated for the core.Conclusion\n\nHIFEM therapy was associated with a significant reduction of pain, disability, and the impact of LBP on daily functioning while improving core muscle strength, offering a non-invasive option for managing LBP.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Royal Spine Surgery, Scottsdale, AZ, USA."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 1,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Mohamed Abdulhamid",
      "orcid": "0009-0001-3961-3133"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cdttyvpm9w0b6.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.2147/mder.s621980",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13695921",
  "id": "cdttyvpm9w0b6",
  "issns": [
    "1179-1470"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928881",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2736|Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223005324",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13695921?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13695921",
  "pmid": "42928881",
  "published": "2026-10-21",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cdttyvpm9w0b6.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:21:18Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42928881",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928881"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2736|Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation",
      "subfield": "pharmacology-toxicology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Targeted Muscle Reconditioning with HIFEM Technology for Low Back Pain: A Retrospective Study on Pain, Function, and Disability.",
  "title_text": "Targeted Muscle Reconditioning with HIFEM Technology for Low Back Pain: A Retrospective Study on Pain, Function, and Disability.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:21:18Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cdttyvpm9w0b6",
  "venue": "Medical devices (Auckland, N.Z.)",
  "versions": []
}