Core Strengthening Effects in Low Back Pain in Overweight Adults

Summary

Mechanical low back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders among overweight adults and can lead to pain, disability, and reduced quality of life. Weakness of the core muscles may contribute to poor spinal stability and persistence of symptoms. Core strengthening exercises have been proposed as an effective treatment; however, evidence regarding their additional benefit over conventional physical therapy remains limited.

This randomized controlled trial aimed to determine the effects of adding core strengthening exercises to conventional physical therapy in overweight adults with mechanical low back pain. Sixty participants aged 25-45 years with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m² or greater and chronic mechanical low back pain lasting more than three months were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group.

The experimental group received core strengthening exercises (planks, side planks, and superman exercises) in addition to conventional physical therapy, while the control group received conventional physical therapy alone. Both groups also received therapeutic hot packs and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Participants attended three treatment sessions per week for six weeks.

Primary outcomes included pain intensity measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), functional disability measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and body fat percentage measured using the Jackson-Pollock skinfold method. Outcomes were assessed before and after the six-week intervention.

The study evaluated whether adding core strengthening exercises to conventional physical therapy provides greater improvements in pain, disability, and body fat percentage in overweight adults with mechanical low back pain.

Conditions

• Mechanical Low Back Pain
• Chronic Low Back Pain

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Core Strengthening Exercise Program + Conventional Physical Therapy

Participants received a supervised exercise program consisting of core strengthening exercises (plank, side plank, and superman exercises) in addition to conventional physical therapy exercises (bridging, knee-to-chest, back extension, and pelvic rotation). Each exercise was performed for 10 repetitions with a 10-second hold. Participants also received a therapeutic hot pack and continuous transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for 10 minutes before exercise. Treatment was provided three sessions per week for six weeks (18 sessions).

PROCEDURE

Conventional Physical Therapy

Participants received conventional physical therapy consisting of bridging, knee-to-chest, back extension, and pelvic rotation exercises. Each exercise was performed for 10 repetitions with a 10-second hold. Participants also received a therapeutic hot pack and continuous transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for 10 minutes before exercise. Treatment was provided three sessions per week for six weeks (18 sessions).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ibadat International University, Islamabad

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Dr Jawad Naveed, MS · Riphah College of Rehabilitation & Allied Health Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

25 Years

Max Age

45 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-01-15

Primary Completion

2023-05-11

Completion

2023-06-30

Countries

• Pakistan

Study Locations