Exercise therapy effects on functional radiographic findings and segmental electromyographic activity in lumbar spine instability.

Flexion-extension and traction-compression radiographs as well as functional electromyographic (EMG) analysis were used to assess nine patients with chronic low back pain and segmental instability symptoms. After a treatment program, at which time most of the patients were asymptomatic and their physical status normalized, the patients were reexamined using EMG and radiographs. No significant change was found in the functional radiographic examination, whereas the myographic findings were significantly improved. Although the number of subjects was small, the results suggest that radiographic findings correlate poorly with clinical findings. Because of the improvement of the physical and myographic findings, the term "segmental dysfunction" may better describe the disability and symptoms than does the term "segmental instability."