Core Stability Before and After Pliates Exercise in Young Individuals with Low Back Pain

Abstract

: Low back pain (LBP) is a common clinical disease, and most patients require long-term treatment. PURPOSE: To observe the change in core stability before and after a 6-week Pilates program in young individuals with low back pain. METHODS: Twenty subjects with LBP (age: 22±2 years, 11 males and 9 females) completed a 6-week Pilates exercise intervention. Before and after the intervention, the Y-balance test (YBT) and abdomen bridge test (ABT) were used to assess the core stability of the subjects. During the YBT, which measures the dynamic balance and coordination of core and lower extremity, values on three directions (anterior - A, posteromedial - PM, and posterolateral l- PL) of both sides and the difference value(D-value)s between the two sides were determined. During the ABT, which measures the core control ability and includes eight levels, the attained level and endurance time of every level were measured. Paired t-tests were performed to compare results before and after the intervention. RESULTS: After the 6-week intervention, compared with the baseline values, there were significant improvements in all three directions of the YBT (see table). Specifically, the overall performance score increased significantly on both sides (both p<0.05). Compared with the baseline values, there was an improvement of more than one level and endurance time increased from 95.06±53.50 sec to 117.50±54.99 sec on the ABT (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: A 6-week Pilates exercise program improved core stability, as evaluated by YBT and ABT, in young individuals with LBP. Future randomized, controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings.YBT Result Before and After InterventionTable: No title available.Support by the Sports Medicine key laboratory of General Administration of Sport of China/Sports Medicine key laboratory of Sichuan province Foundation.