The study found that 4-week PNF training has positive long-term effects on pain-related outcomes, and increases lower back muscle activity in patients with CLBP.

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Abstract. [Purpose] To determine the therapeutic effects of core stabilization exercise in the treatment of patients with clinical lumbar instability.[Methods] Twenty subjects with clinical lumbar instability were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. The treatment group received 10 weeks of core stabilization exercise (CSE), while the control group (CG) received 10 weeks of hydrocollator therapy and trunk stretching exercises. Pain intensity of the instability catch sign (ICS), functional disability, and trunk muscle activation patterns were measured before and at one day after 10 weeks of intervention.[Results] Both groups showed a significant reduction in pain intensity of ICS and reduced functional disability after 10 weeks of intervention; however, a significant improvement in the ratio activation of the transversus abdominis and internal oblique muscle relative to the rectus abdominis was only seen in CSE. In the comparison between groups, CSE showed significantly greater improvement in reduction of pain intensity during the ICS, significantly reduced functional disability, and significantly increased deep abdominal muscle activation after 10 weeks of intervention compared to CG.[Conclusion] The 10 weeks of CSE provided better therapeutic effects for pain intensity of ICS, reduced functional disability, and facilitated deep abdominal muscle activation of patients with clinical lumbar instability.

Background and aimsClinical lumbar instability causes pain and socioeconomic suffering; however, an appropriate treatment for this condition is unknown. This article examines the effect of a 10 week core stabilization exercise (CSE) program and 3 month follow-up on pain-related outcomes in patients with clinical lumbar instability.MethodsForty-two participants with clinical lumbar instability of at least 3 months in duration were randomly allocated either to 10 weekly treatments with CSE or to a conventional group (CG) receiving trunk stretching exercises and hot pack. Pain-related outcomes including pain intensity during instability catch sign, functional disability, patient satisfaction, and health-related quality of life were measured at 10 weeks of intervention and 1 and 3 months after the last intervention session (follow-up); trunk muscle activation patterns measured by surface electromyography were measured at 10 weeks.ResultsCSE showed significantly greater reductions in all pain-related outcomes after 10 weeks and over the course of 3 month follow-up periods than those seen in the CG (P<0.01). Furthermore, CSE enhanced deep abdominal muscle activation better than in the CG (P<0.001), whereas the CG had deterioration of deep back muscle activation compared with the CSE group (P<0.01). For within-group comparison, CSE provided significant improvements in all pain-related outcomes over follow-up (P<0.01), whereas the CG demonstrated reduction in pain intensity during instability catch sign only at 10 weeks (P<0.01). In addition, CSE showed an improvement in deep abdominal muscle activation (P<0.01), whereas the CG revealed the deterioration of deep abdominal and back muscle activations (P<0.05).ConclusionTen week CSE provides greater training and retention effects on pain-related outcomes and induced activation of deep abdominal muscles in patients with clinical lumbar instability compared with conventional treatment.

BackgroundExisting literature offers little guidance for therapists who provide core stabilisation exercise (CSE) and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) training to treat chronic low back pain (CLBP). Studies conducting a head-to-head comparison of CSE and PNF training for CLBP are needed.ObjectiveTo compare the effects of CSE and PNF training on pain-related outcomes and trunk muscle activity in CLBP patients.MethodsForty-five CLBP patients, ranging from 18 to 50 years of age, were randomly divided and assigned to either a four-week CSE, four-week PNF training, or control group. Pain-related outcomes, including pain intensity, functional disability and patient satisfaction, as well as superficial and deep trunk muscle activity were assessed before and after the four-week intervention, and at a three-month follow-up.ResultsCompared to the control group, those in the CSE and PNF training groups showed significant improvements in all pain-related outcomes after the four-week intervention and at three-month follow-up (P < 0.01). Following the four-week intervention, both CSE and PNF training groups demonstrated significant improvement in deep trunk muscle activity, including the transversus abdominis (TrA) and superficial fibres of lumbar multifidus (LM), compared to the control group (P < 0.05).ConclusionFour-week CSE and PNF training provided short-term and long-term effects on pain-related outcomes, along with increased deep trunk muscle activity in CLBP patients.