Core Endurance Versus Segmental Stabilization Exercise in Recreational Athletes With Low Back Pain
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-45
SponsorUskudar University
About this trial
Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal complaint among athletes, and most cases are classified as non-specific low back pain, in which no clear anatomical or pathological source of pain can be identified. Recreational athletes, who exercise regularly for health and fitness rather than for competition, often have less structured training planning and technical supervision than professional athletes, which may increase their susceptibility to musculoskeletal complaints. Core stability has become an important consideration in the prevention and management of low back pain. The core region includes the abdominal muscles, paraspinal muscles, diaphragm, and pelvic floor muscles, and plays an important role in maintaining spinal stability. Reduced activation and endurance of these muscles may increase the load on the lumbar spine and contribute to the development of low back pain. This randomized trial compares two exercise approaches in recreational athletes with non-specific low back pain: a core endurance exercise program and a segmental stabilization exercise program targeting the transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus. Participants are randomly assigned to one of the two programs, both delivered three days per week for six weeks under physiotherapist supervision. Pain and functional status, dynamic balance, and core muscle endurance are assessed before the program and at the end of the six-week program.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Aged 18 years or older
Recreational athlete who has recently begun regular physical activity
Diagnosis of non-specific low back pain confirmed by an orthopaedic specialist
Two or more episodes of low back pain within the past year
Disqualifiers
Radicular (nerve root) signs
Underlying systemic or visceral disease
Diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis
Spinal pathology such as spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Core endurance exercise program
Other interventionSupervised isometric core endurance training comprising the front plank, side plank, and superman plank. Each exercise: 20 repetitions of a 15-second isometric hold, two sets, 3-minute rest between sets. Three sessions per week for six weeks.
Segmental stabilization exercise program
Other interventionSupervised motor-control training targeting the transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus, comprising quadruped stabilization, supine transversus abdominis activation with knees flexed, prone lumbar multifidus activation, and standing postural control with co-activation of both muscles. Three sessions per week for six weeks.
Treatment groups
60 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Core endurance exerciseExperimental treatment 2 interventions
Group B: Segmental stabilization exerciseActive comparator 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Change in low back pain and functional status (Micheli Functional Scale)
The Micheli Functional Scale is a five-item scale developed to assess low back pain related functional impairment and pain related changes in performance in athletes. It comprises one symptom question, three activity questions (extension, flexion, and jumping), and a visual analogue scale section. The symptom question is scored from 0 to 5; the activity questions are scored from 0 to 4 for extension, from 0 to 3 for flexion, and from 0 to 3 for jumping. The visual analogue scale section provides a 10-point assessment on a 10 cm line. The total score is calculated out of 25 and multiplied by 4 to produce a standardized score from 0 to 100. Lower scores indicate better functional status and higher scores indicate greater functional impairment.
Time frame
Baseline (week 0) and at the end of the six-week exercise program (week 6)Sponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov