Abstract
Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess core stabilization exercise effects in reducing functional disability in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP).Methods: This study included total of 90 patients aged 40 to 60 years. After a ten-day rehabilitation program the patients from an examination group (n = 30) performed home exercise program five times a week, patients from a first control group (n = 30) three times a week, while patients from a second control group (n = 30) did not perform the exercises at all. The patients performed core stabilization exercises of moderate intensity once a day in 30 minutes sessions. The patient's functional disability was estimated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).Results: After two months of rehabilitation there was a statistically significant increase in functional ability in patients who performed the core stabilization exercises five times a week(p = 0.0001) and in patients who performed the core stabilization exercises three times per week (p = 0.0001). A statistically significant difference in functional ability was not recorded in patients who did not perform the exercises. The analysis of the average values of the ODI differences at the beginning and after two months of rehabilitation showed a statistically significant difference between the group who did not perform the exercises and the group who performed the core stabilization exercises three times a week (p = 0.0001), and between the group who did not perform the exercises and the group who performed the core stabilization exercises five times a week (p = 0.0001).Conclusions: The implementation of the core stabilization exercises leads to a reduction of functional disability in patients with CLBP.
Highlights
The aim of this study was to assess core stabilization exercise effects in reducing functional disability in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP)
In subacute low back pain populations, some evidence suggests that a graded activity program improves absenteeism outcomes, evidence for other types of exercise is unclear [9].The evidence from randomized controlled trials demonstrated that exercise therapy is effective at reducing pain and improving function in the treatment of chronic low back pain (CLBP) [7]
Comparison of the average scores of the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) before the rehabilitation shows that there are no statistically significant differences observed between the groups by the one-way analysis of variance ANOVA (p > 0.05) (Table 3)
Summary
The aim of this study was to assess core stabilization exercise effects in reducing functional disability in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Low back pain (LBP) affects many individuals and results in significant level of disability, producing significant restriction on usual activity, affects work performance and social responsibilities [1,2] It is increasingly a major factor in escalating health-care costs [1]. In subacute low back pain populations, some evidence suggests that a graded activity program improves absenteeism outcomes, evidence for other types of exercise is unclear [9].The evidence from randomized controlled trials demonstrated that exercise therapy is effective at reducing pain and improving function in the treatment of chronic low back pain (CLBP) [7]. Their aims are pain decrease, muscular strengthening in flexion or extension, increased hip and lumbar spine mobility, improved lumbar and pelvic proprioceptive sensibility [10], improved motor control and muscle capacity [11], improved performance of endurance activities, reduced back pain-related disability [12], and improved general fitness [10]
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