Effectiveness of specific stabilization exercise compared with traditional trunk exercise in women with non-specific low back pain: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background Non-specific low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability worldwide. The primary physiotherapeutic treatment for LBP is physical exercise, but evidence suggesting a specific exercise as most appropriate for any given case is limited. Objective To determine if specific stabilization exercise (SSE) is more effective than traditional trunk exercise (TTE) in reducing levels of pain, disability and inflammation in women with non-specific low back pain (LBP). Design A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted in Rovira i Virgili University, Catalonia. Methods Thirty-nine females experiencing non-specific LBP were included in two groups: the TTE program and SSE program, both were conducted by a physiotherapist during twenty sessions. The primary outcome was pain intensity (10-cm Visual Analogue Scale). Secondary outcomes were disability (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire), and inflammation (IL-6 and TNF-α plasma levels). Measurements were taken at baseline, at half intervention, at post-intervention, and a month later. Results Mean group differences in change from baseline to post-intervention for TTE were: −4.5 points (CI 3.3 to 5.6) for pain, −5.1 points (CI 3.0 to 7.3) for disability, 0.19 pg/mL (95% CI [−1.6–1.2]) for IL-6 levels, and 46.2 pg/mL (CI 13.0 to 85.3) for TNF-α levels. For SSE, differences were: −4.3 points (CI 3.1 to 5.6) for pain, −6.1 points (CI 3.7 to 8.6) for disability, 1.1 pg/mL (CI 0.0 to 2.1) for IL-6 levels , and 12.8 pg/mL (95% CI [−42.3–16.7]) for TNF-α levels. There were an insignificant effect size and no statistically significant overall mean differences between both groups. Conclusion This study suggests that both interventions (traditional trunk and specific stabilization exercises) are effective in reducing pain and disability in non-specific LBP patients, but the two programs produce different degrees of inflammation change. Clinical trial registration number NCT02103036.

The Effects of Yoga and Stabilization Exercises in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

“…In the literature, there are very few studies comparing the effectiveness of yoga and stabilization exercises, while there are many studies comparing the effects of these 2 exercises with traditional therapeutic exercises; however, no clear findings were obtained in those studies. It was reported in some studies that they had similar effects,25–27 while some other studies indicated that yoga and stabilization exercises were more effective 28–30. In addition, the results of recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses examining the effects of exercises on CLBP indicate that exercises are not superior to each other 7,8.…”

Comparison of the effectiveness of conventional physical therapy and extracorporeal shock wave therapy on pain, disability, functional status, and depression in patients with chronic low back pain

“…The inclusion criteria were as follows: nonspecific, nonradicular (axial) chronic LBP diagnosis (LBP for at least three months), a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score of 5 or higher, and sufficient cooperation. The exclusion criteria were determined as specific LBP (presence of a specific cause, such as radiculopathy, spinal stenosis, or infection),[ 4 ] radicular pain, surgical history in the lumbar spine area, vertebral compression fracture, spinal tumors, intervertebral disc infections, inflammatory rheumatic diseases, pregnancy, heart disease, and structural abnormalities in the lumbar region. The patients' age, sex, educational status, height-weight, body mass index (BMI), medications, whether there was any concomitant disease, and the duration of the symptoms were recorded.…”

“…This condition is classified as nonspecific LBP and constitutes at least 90% of those experiencing spinal pain; its diagnosis is based on the exclusion of other specific causes. [ 4 - 6 ]…”

The effect and mechanism of motor control exercise on low back pain: a narrative review

“…Currently, few studies have specifically observed the specific effect of MCE on LBP from an inflammatory aspect. One research investigated the plasma concentration level changes of TNF-α and IL-6 after long-term MCE intervention among patients with LBP ( 63 ). Their results indicated TNF-α maintained whereas IL-6 increased after intervention.…”