Introduction. Disc Protrusion (DP) is a degenerative spinal disorder. Lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion is one of the most common orthopedic injuries, leading to low back pain that radiates to the lower limbs. Physical exercise is the main element in the conservative treatment of low back pain. Objective. Comparing the effects of the McKenzie method and core stabilization exercises on the rehabilitation of patients with lumbar DP. Methods. We allocated sixty-nine patients with low back pain due to disc protrusion to the Core Group (CG), the McKenzie Group (MG), or the Core + McKenzie Group (CMG). All groups underwent three interventions per week for four weeks, totaling 12 sessions. We assessed pain intensity, hamstring flexibility, functional capacity, muscle strength, and lumbopelvic stability. Results. All intervention groups significantly reduced pain intensity and functional disability, besides improving posterior muscle chain flexibility, quality of life, trunk muscle strength, and lumbopelvic stability (p < 0.05). For functional capacity, assessed through the SF-26 Questionnaire, as well as for posture holding time in the lumbopelvic stability tests, the CG and CMG significantly improved the results compared to the MG (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The results suggest that both exercise methods were efficient in reducing pain and improving function in patients with low back pain due to disc protrusion. However, the groups that used stabilization exercises showed better results in activating lumbopelvic stabilizing muscles.
Background. Low back pain is one of the most frequent causes of disability. Therapeutics programs have been used to promote muscle strengthening and lumbar stability. Methods. Randomized clinical trial with 30 female participants with chronic low back pain, divided into CORE Group (CG), NMES Group (NG), and CORE + NMES group (CNG). At the end of the intervention and six months later, the following were evaluated: pain level, functional status and disability, hamstring flexibility and evaluation of core stabilizing muscles. All groups received three weekly interventions for four weeks. Results. Pain level was significantly reduced in all study groups (p<0.05). The CNG Group significantly reduced pain at the end of the intervention compared to the NG Group (p<0.05). The Oswestry Disability Index decreased in all intervention groups; however, the CNG Group more significantly reduced the score compared to the other groups (p<0.05). Lumbopelvic stability tests showed that the CNG Group had a significantly higher stability than the CG Group and NG Group (p<0.05). Conclusion. Compared to the single use of CORE exercises or passive NMES, the association between NMES and CORE exercises resulted in greater analgesia, improved function, and greater lumbopelvic stability in patients with nonspecific low back pain.
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