Lumbar Multifidus Dysfunction and Chronic Low Back Pain: Overview, Therapies, and an Update on the Evidence

Non-specific chronic low back pain is correlated with multifidus atrophy, fatty infiltration, and abnormal lumbar multifidus muscle function. This finding highlights the need for further research and clinical trials on targeted therapeutic approaches. Existing treatments on the lumbar multifidus muscle include motor control exercises and restorative neurostimulation. Unlike many conventional treatments that primarily provide symptom relief, these therapies aim to restore natural multifidus function, offering a rehabilitative rather than purely palliative approach. Motor control exercises have been shown to improve symptoms in cases of CLBP, but there is mixed evidence of their effectiveness relative to standard physical therapy. Restorative neurostimulation is a promising intervention that has been shown to provide significant, durable improvements to disability and pain. Further research on restorative therapies should be conducted using rigorous control protocols and comparative analyses with other CLBP treatment modalities.