Effects of Core Stability Training on the Function and Control of Deep Stabilizing Muscles

January 14, 2025 updated by: Kyeongjin Lee, Kyungdong University
This study investigates the effects of core stability training on the functionality and control of deep stabilizing muscles in healthy adults. Core stability exercises focus on strengthening the transversus abdominis and related core muscles to prevent and manage low back pain. Participants are randomly assigned to either the experimental group, performing core stability exercises on unstable surfaces such as a reformer, or the control group, performing aerobic exercises. Outcomes are measured by changes in muscle thickness and contraction time using rehabilitative ultrasound imaging, aiming to demonstrate the potential of core stabilization for enhancing spine support and reducing lower back pain.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
60

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Korea, Republic of
    • Gangwon-do
      • Wonju, Gangwon-do, Korea, Republic of, 26495
        • Department of Physical Therapy, Kyungdong University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged between 20 and 29 years
  • Healthy adults who can understand and complete the planned training program
  • Individuals who have signed informed consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals with balance disorders due to orthopedic or neurological conditions
  • Those with cardiopulmonary diseases
  • Individuals who have undergone surgery within the past 6 months
  • Persons with other physical disabilities that could interfere with the study
  • Individuals who have participated in similar studies recently
  • Pregnant individuals

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Control Group
This group participates in aerobic exercise sessions as a comparative intervention. Participants engage in a 50-minute session three times per week over eight weeks. The exercise includes warm-up, a main session (walking at a controlled intensity), and cool-down, with intensity levels adjusted over time to match cardiovascular improvements.
Behavioral: Aerobic Exercise
Participants in this group engage in aerobic exercise sessions that consist of warm-up, controlled-intensity walking, and a cool-down phase. This intervention serves as a comparative baseline, aiming to improve cardiovascular endurance without specifically targeting core stability. The aerobic routine is adjusted over time to increase exercise intensity, conducted three times per week for eight weeks, with each session lasting 50 minutes.
Experimental: Core Stability Training Group
This group receives core stability training aimed at strengthening deep stabilizing muscles, including the transversus abdominis, to improve lumbar support and control. Participants perform a 50-minute session three times per week over eight weeks, focusing on exercises using unstable surfaces like the Pilates reformer to enhance proprioception and core engagement.
Behavioral: Core Stability Training
Participants in this group undergo core stability training sessions targeting deep stabilizing muscles. The exercises are designed to enhance spinal support and core control by activating the transversus abdominis and other core muscles. Sessions involve the use of a Pilates reformer and other unstable surfaces, fostering proprioceptive engagement and improved muscle coordination. Training is conducted three times per week for eight weeks, with each session lasting 50 minutes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Thickness of Deep Stabilizing Muscles
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks after the intervention
The thickness of the core stabilizing muscles, including the rectus abdominis, transversus abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique, is measured using rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI). For this assessment, a 10 MHz linear probe or a 3.5 MHz convex probe is positioned 2.5 cm lateral to the umbilicus while the participant lies in a supine position. The measurement captures the distance between the upper and lower fascial layers of each muscle, providing an indication of muscle thickness. Three measurements are taken, and the median value is used in analysis.
Baseline and 8 weeks after the intervention
Contraction Time of Deep Stabilizing Muscles
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks after the intervention
This measure assesses the contraction time of deep stabilizing muscles, specifically during a hollowing exercise where the participant engages the transversus abdominis and other abdominal muscles. Using rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI), the probe is positioned 2.5 cm lateral to the umbilicus to observe muscle activation. Contraction time is recorded as the duration from the onset of muscle activation to full contraction. Measurements are taken three times, with the median value used for analysis.
Baseline and 8 weeks after the intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Kyungdong University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
November 4, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 10, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 10, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 1, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 1, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 4, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 14, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2024-05-013

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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