The Effect of Core Stabilization Exercises in People With Chronic Low Back Pain

Summary

Low back pain is a health problem that causes clinical, social and economic losses all over the world and affects the majority of the population. More than 80% of adults in the general population experience low back pain at least once in their lifetime. Although the incidence of chronic low back pain is so high, 85% of these pains do not have a pathoanatomical cause and these pains are defined as non-specific chronic low back pain. Exercise therapy is the key to the conservative management of nonspecific chronic low back pain. Lumbar stabilization exercises based on the principle of motor control of core muscles have also become popular in rehabilitation programs for low back pain in recent years.The core region is the lumbopelvic region of the body. The aim of the stabilization exercises is to teach to use the neutral position of the lumbar region and to keep the load on the dynamic and static structures at the lowest level. Core stabilization training begins with teaching the contraction of the transversus abdominus, deep spinal and multifidus muscle.Then, these exercises are planned specifically for the person from immobile positions to movements positions, from simple movements to combined movements, from gross patterns to fine motor patterns, from symmetrical movements to asymmetric movements. These exercises can be developed specifically for the region and pathology with the functions of the muscles in the region of the pathology. The lumbar multifidus muscle is known to be an important stabilizer of the lumbar region. In addition, the cross-sectional area of the lumbar multifidus muscle has short, thick, dense muscle fibers compared to other lumbar region muscles.These dense muscle fibers are compressed in a small space and have a high mass.This morphology allows the lumbar multifidus muscle to produce great force in a small working area and makes the muscle ideal for stability. In addition, the position of the lumbar multifidus muscle between the vertebrae increases its importance for stability. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of core stabilization exercises on the cross-sectional area (CSA) and amount of adipose tissue of the lumbar multifidus muscle in adults with chronic low back pain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and also to examine the effects of these exercises on pain, functionality and lumbopelvic stability.

Conditions

• Non-specific Low Back Pain

Interventions

OTHER

Core Exercise Group

Core Exercise Group Procedure: Weeks 1-4 (Five days a week) 1. Hotpack ultrasound, conventional TENS, stretching exercises and strengthening exercises for low back pain. 2. Core stabilization exercise : * Active pelvic floor exercise (supine position) * Bridge exercise (supine position) * Back Extension and Ball Back Extension exercises (prone position) * Abdominal and Oblique Crunch exercises (supin position) * Leg lift exercise (prone position) * Plank and Side Plank exercise * Superman exercise Weeks 5-8 (Three days a week) 1. Stretching exercises and strengthening exercises for low back pain. 2. Core stabilization exercise : * The same exercises as for Weeks 1-4 will perform.

OTHER

Routine Therapy Group

Routine Therapy Group Procedure: Weeks 1-4 (Five days a week) 1\. Hotpack ultrasound, conventional TENS, stretching exercises and strengthening exercises for low back pain. Weeks 5-8 (Three days a week) 1.Stretching exercises and strengthening exercises for low back pain.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University

  collaborator OTHER

• Mehmet Akif Guler

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Mehmet Akif Güler, MSc/PT · Selcuk University / Faculty of Health Sciences / Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

• Ertuğrul Demirdel, Asst. Prof · Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University / Faculty of Health Sciences / Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

• Ilknur Albayrak Gezer, Assoc. Prof · Selcuk University / Faculty of Medicine / Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

• Alaaddin Nayman, Assoc. Prof · Selcuk University / Faculty of Medicine / Department of Radiology

• Ezgi Akyıldız Tezcan, MD · Cumra Public Hospital / Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-03-31

Primary Completion

2022-09-01

Completion

2023-03-01

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations