08/20/2026
For some people with chronic low back pain, the problem may involve more than the structures visible on an MRI.
The multifidus muscles are small, deep muscles that help stabilize the lower spine. They should activate automatically when you stand, bend, lift, walk, or change positions.
After an injury or a prolonged period of back pain, communication between the nervous system and these muscles can become disrupted. The muscles may stop activating normally, weaken over time, and provide less support during everyday movement.
For some patients, this can contribute to persistent mechanical low back pain, including:
• Pain centered primarily in the lower back
• Difficulty standing comfortably
• Pain when rising from a chair
• A stiff, unstable, or “catching” sensation
• Pain while bending, lifting, walking, or doing household activities
• Limited improvement after physical therapy, medication, injections, or other treatments
For appropriately selected patients, ReActiv8 restorative neurostimulation may offer a different approach.
Unlike traditional spinal cord stimulation, which is generally intended to alter how pain signals are perceived, ReActiv8 activates the nerves that control the multifidus muscles. The goal is to help restore neuromuscular control and improve the muscles’ ability to stabilize the spine over time.
A thorough evaluation is necessary to determine the cause of the pain and whether ReActiv8 or another treatment may be appropriate.
Learn more about multifidus dysfunction, ReActiv8, and how Columbia Orthopaedic Group evaluates persistent back pain:
https://www.columbiaorthogroup.com/blog/back-pain-management-muscle-dysfunction-reactiv8.html
