Relationship Between Core Muscles Endurance and Functional Lower Limb Performance in Patients With Chronic Mechanical Low Back Pai

Abstract

Purpose:The purpose of this cross-sectional, correlation study was to investigate the correlation between core muscles endurance and functional lower limb performance in patients with mechanical chronic low back pain. Materials and methods: Twenty-six subjects with chronic mechanical low back pain were included in this study. Their mean age was 31.27 ±6.75 years, and mean body mass index was 25.89 ± 1.82 kg/m 2 . Researchers measured core muscles endurance with core endurance tests, and lower limbs` functional performance with hops tests. Spearman rank correlation coefficient was conducted to investigate the correlation between core muscles endurance and functional testing. Results: The findings of this study indicate that there was a correlation between right limb single hop and right-side trunk endurance; left leg single hop and trunk extension endurance; left leg triple hop and trunk extension endurance; percentage of improvement between right and left lower extremity triple hop and trunk prone endurance; and percentage of limb symmetry index during both lower limbs triple hop and trunk prone endurance (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study allow us to draw the conclusion that functional lower limb performance and core muscular endurance should be taken into consideration when planning exercise programs for patients with mechanical chronic low back pain.