Non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCBP) is considered the leading cause of impairment of normal, symptom-free life (disability-adjusted life years - DALYs). NSCBP force more people out of work than diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, respiratory disease, asthma and cancer together. Strength and stability-oriented training programs in particular can lead to a significant improvement in NSCBP. However, back pain patients often cite time limitations and kinesiophobia (fear of movements) as the main reasons for their physical inactivity . The time-effective, joint-friendly and highly customizable whole-body electromyostimulation technology (WB-EMS) has been shown to be an effective alternative to conventional back training in two recently published clinical studies Following the successful implementation of this concept, dissemination of the positive results and testing of suitable settings for its implementation, the next step is to adapt and implement the concept as part of a knowledge transfer project in outpatient rehabilitation settings. The present project thus aimed to compare the effect of WB-EMS versus medical therapeutic therapy (MTT) using dedicated resistances devices as a recognized safe and effective treatment for low back pain.

Inclusion Criteria:

• women and men 40-70 years old;
• chronic pain in the lumbar spine (at least 50 percent of the days of the last 3 months,
• average basal pain intensity (average 7 days) in the lumbar spine on NRS 0-10: ≥2.5

Exclusion Criteria:

• orthopedic diagnosis (i.e. specific type of LBP);
• frequent intake of analgesics (>4 days/week);
• pharmacological therapy or diseases affecting muscle metabolism (e.g., glucocorticoids);
• no contraindications for WB-EMS application (e.g., epilepsy, cardiac pacemaker, thrombosis, and total endoprosthesis)

Outcome assessors are unaware of participant status (WB-EMS or MTT) and were not allowed to ask participants correspondingly