Changes in central nervous system (CNS) pathways controlling trunk and leg muscles in patients with low back pain(LBP) and lumbar radiculopathy have been observed and this study investigated whether surgery impacts upon these changes in the long term. 80 participants were recruited into the following groups: 25 surgery(S), 20 chronic LBP(CH), 14 spinal injection(SI), and 21 controls(C). Parameters of corticospinal control were examined before, at 6, 26 and 52 weeks following lumbar decompression surgery and equivalent intervals. Electromyographic(EMG) activity was recorded from tibialis anterior(TA), soleus(SOL), rectus abdominis(RA), external oblique(EO) and erector spinae(ES) muscles at the T12&L4 levels in response to transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex. Motor evoked potentials (MEP) and cortical silent periods(cSP) recruitment curves(RC) were analysed.Introduction
Methods
