Journal of Research in Rehabilitation Sciences
The effect of core stability training on pain and performance in women patients with non-specific chronic low back pain
Document Type : Original Articles
Authors
1 MSc in Sport Injury & Corrective Exercise, School of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Sport Medicine, School of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Department of Sport Physiology, Ahwaz University of Shahid Chamran, Ahwaz, Iran
4 Asisstant Professor, Musculoskeletal Research Center, Jondi Shahpour University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Low Back Pain (LBP) has been considered as a major social problem imposing high financial burden on health care costs and creating various health problems in industrial countries. There are more than 20 types of treatment for chronic LB. Developing a therapeutic/rehabilitative program for faster recovery of patients with chronic LB has always been considered. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a core stability training program on pain and performance in female patients with non-specific chronic low back pain.Materials and Methods: Thirty female non-athlete patients with non-specific chronic LB (mean age, 36.3 ± 5.2 y; mean weight 68.6 ± 8.3 kg mean height, 160.8 ± 4.6 cm) who referred to Naft Hospital (Ahwaz-Iran) participated in this study. Patients were equally randomly assigned to either experimental or control groups. At pre-test, pain and performance of patients were assessed using VAS and Oswestry questioners. Patients in experimental group participated in a 12-session core stability training program while patients in the control group did not participate in any specific program. At post-test, pain and performance of patients in two groups were re-assessed at the hospital.Results: The results of the present study showed significant improvements of pain (T = 13; P < 0.05) for patients in the experimental group (6.5 ± 0.33 vs. 2.1 ± 0.45) following core stability training and no significant change (P > 0.05) in the control group (5.27 ± 0.46 vs. 5.3 ± 0.48). With regard to performance, a significant difference (T = 3.8, P < 0.05) between pre- and post-training was found in the experimental group (26.3 ± 3.3 vs. 14.4 ± 3.4) but in the control group (33.1 ± 4.7 vs. 33.12 ± 4.2) no significant difference was observed (P > 0.05).Conclusion: It can be concluded that core stability training can lead to decrease in pain and improve performance in patients with chronic LB. Therefore, this type of training is recommended to be considered as a therapeutic option for this population of patients.Keywords: Low back pain, Stability exercises, Electrotherapy, VAS, Oswestry
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