The Effect of Stabilization Exercises Along With Self-care Training on Transverse Abdominal Activity, Pain, and Disability in Mothers With Low Back Pain Having Children With Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Supplemental digital content is available in the text. Objective Many mothers of children with cerebral palsy experience low back pain, so the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of stabilization exercises along with self-care training on transverse abdominal muscle activity, pain, disability, and depression in them. Design In this single-blinded randomized clinical trial, 32 mothers with cerebral palsy children were selected were randomly divided into two groups. Both groups received self-care training individually. For the experimental group, in addition to the self-care training, 24 sessions of stabilization exercises were held. Outcome measures included visual analog scale, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, Persian version of Beck Depression Inventory-II, and ultrasonography. Results In the experimental group, the transverse abdominal muscle activity during abdominal hollowing exercises was significantly increased (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in pain, disability, and depression (P > 0.05). Conclusions Stabilization exercises could improve the voluntary activity of transverse abdominal muscle of mothers of children with cerebral palsy.