Sensory Stimulation Belt for Chronic Low Back Pain in Office Workers

Brief Summary

This randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial will evaluate the effectiveness of a sensory stimulation belt in office workers with chronic nonspecific low back pain. Participants will first complete baseline clinical and sensorimotor assessments and will then be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either an active sensory stimulation belt or a sham belt. Participants will wear the assigned belt during their usual office work for at least 4 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 4 weeks. Daily belt use, pain intensity, adherence, skin reactions, and device-related problems will be recorded in a study logbook, with weekly follow-up by the research team. Clinical outcomes will include pain intensity, frequency and intensity of low back pain or discomfort episodes, low back pain-related disability, work-related musculoskeletal discomfort, tactile acuity, and pressure pain threshold. Mechanistic outcomes will include corticospinal excitability, somatosensory cortical responses during unstable sitting, postural control, lumbar multifidus motor-unit behavior, and lumbar multifidus contractile response. The primary objective is to determine whether 4 weeks of active lumbar sensory stimulation produces greater improvements in clinical outcomes than a sham intervention and whether clinical changes are accompanied by changes in sensorimotor and neuromuscular outcomes.