Effectiveness of core stability exercises in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: A review of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Individual studies have shown that core stability exercise (CSE) program is effective at improving pain and function in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain (LBP) and the use of this intervention has become increasingly popular. However, there is still a further need for systematic review to infer the precise efficacy of CSEs for chronic nonspecific LBP (CNLBP). The aim of this study was to systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effectiveness of CSEs in patients with CNLBP. A systematic review of RCTs was done using published articles. Recognized databases such as CINAHL, AMED, MEDLINE, PEDro, and The Cochrane Library were used to search for RCTs published between 2010 and 2015 in which pain and disability were evaluated as outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. Six studies met the criteria for this review. The included studies randomised participants into two different exercise groups. All studies had PEDro scores of >5/10. Five out of the six studies showed benefits of CSEs over other intervention or control for pain and disability while the other study shows both CSEs and traditional trunk exercises to be effective. The result of this review supports the effectiveness of CSEs at improving pain and disability in patients with CNLBP. Further studies with robust methodology are warranted to assess the longterm effects of this intervention in patients with CNLBP.