Effects of Core Stabilization Exercise versus General Trunk-Strengthening Exercise on Balance Performance, Pain Intensity and Trunk Muscle Activity Patterns in Clinical Lumbar Instability Patients: A Single Blind Randomized Trial

Abstract

Postural balance is important for activities of daily living. Patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) exhibit balance problems, such as difficulty performing daily activities. Specifically, CLBP patients with clinical lumbar instability (CLI) have demonstrated deep trunk muscular dysfunction that induces poor postural control and may result in a high risk of falling. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a 10-week core stabilization exercise (CSE) regimen versus a strengthening trunk exercise (STE) regimen and conduct a 3-month follow-up on balance, pain, and trunk muscle activity patterns in CLI patients. A single-blind randomized controlled trial was used to compare the effects of CSE and STE on balance, pain, and trunk muscle activity patterns in 38 CLBP patients with CLI. The results of the 5-times-sit-to-stand test (FTSST) and pain intensity revealed significant improvements in both groups after ten weeks of exercise and at the 3-month follow-up point. However, the differences in the FTSST scores and pain intensity between the CSE and STE patients were not significant. Moreover, the CSE group presented significantly greater deep abdominal muscle activation than the STE group after ten weeks of exercise. In addition, both groups exhibited a trend of improvement in terms of deep back muscle activation. Therefore, the current study results suggest that both exercise regimens can improve balance performance and pain intensity. Moreover, the CSE group showed more significant improvements in deep abdominal muscle activation than the STE group.