Effect of Pilates Core Stabilization in Adjunct With Plyometric Shoulder Training on Low Back Pain in Fast Bowlers(RCT)

Effect of Pilates Core Stabilization in Adjunct With Plyometric Shoulder Training on Low Back Pain in Fast Bowlers: a Randomized Controlled Trial

This RCT will seek to determine both the Pilates core stabilization and plyometric shoulder training on LBP in fast bowlers. The research problem will emphasize the absence of detailed rehabilitation protocols that address the upper and lower limb strength dysfunction, pain, quality of life, and biomechanics of fast bowlers. Prior literature has not examined the combined use of these two training interventions to address LBP, which affects the performance of fast bowlers. In this study, participants will be randomly assigned to two groups. Group A (experimental) will receive Pilates core stabilization and plyometric shoulder training, while Group B (control) will receive conventional physiotherapy for LBP. There will be two sessions per week for six weeks, and the intensity of the exercises will gradually increase to address athletes' strength, flexibility, and movement control.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Low Back Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Experimental Group (training and stabilization); Combination product: Control Group (physiotherapy and exercise)

Detailed Description

Assessments will be conducted using multiple scales of upper limb strength for the Cricket Ball Throw Test, lower limb strength for the Vertical Jump Test, Quality of Life for the Oswestry Disability Index, biomechanics analysis to determine movement efficiency and Pain Intensity for Numeric Pain Rating Scale. This study will give information about the efficiency of adding core and shoulder training to managing LBP in fast bowlers, increasing their athletic performance and bringing helpful value to the sports and physiotherapy domain.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 36
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab
    • Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
      • Pakistan Cricket Board

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 17-25 years
• Male cricket players
• Playing cricket for more than 2 years
• Low back pain without radiation
• Chronic low back pain for more than 3 months
• Non-specific mechanical type without identifiable specific anatomical or neurophysiological causative factors and medically fit

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any pathological condition of the spine, hip, knee, and pelvis.
• Any history of musculoskeletal injury in the past 6 months.
• Any history of a neurological condition.
• Uncontrolled metabolic disorders such as Diabetes Mellitus
• Any surgical h/o shoulder or elbow in the past 6 months

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental Group	Diagnostic test: Experimental Group (training and stabilization); Plyometric Shoulder Training [28] and Pilates Core Stabilization [27] Exercise 1-2 weeks (rep × kg) 3-4 weeks (rep × kg) 5-6 weeks (rep × kg) Throwing Movements Medicine ball chest pass 8 × 1 kg 10 × 2 kg 12 × 3 kg Medicine ball step and pass 8 × 1 kg 10 × 2 kg 12 × 3 kg Medicine ball side throw 8 × 1 kg 10 × 2 kg 12 × 3 kg Tubing Plyos IR/ER 8 × 10 10 × 10 12 × 12 Tubing Plyos Diagonal 8 × 10 10 × 10 12 × 12 Tubing Plyos Biceps 8 × 10 10 × 10 12 × 12 Plyo Push-ups (boxes) 8 × 10 10 × 10 12 × 12 Push-ups (clappers) 8 × 10 10 × 10 12 × 12
Active Comparator: Control Group	Combination product: Control Group (physiotherapy and exercise); Physiotherapy Care for Low Back Pain [30] Exercise Week 1-2 (Sets x Reps/Duration) Week 3-4 (Sets x Reps/Duration) Week 5-6 (Sets x Reps/Duration) Plank 3 x 20 sec 3 x 30 sec 4 x 45 sec Bicycle Crunches 3 x 12 3 x 15 4 x 20-25 Leg Raises 3 x 12 3 x 15 4 x 20-25 Russian Twists 3 x 20 3 x 25 4 x 30-35 Slump Exercise 3 x 10 3 x 12 4 x 15-18 Bridge Exercise with Swiss Ball 3 x 12 3 x 15 4 x 18

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
NPRS (Numeric Pain Rating Scale)	The NPRS denotes pain severity on a whole-number scale, ranging from 0 to 10, with 0 meaning no pain at all and 10 signifying the worst pain one has ever experienced. A lower score on the scale indicates a reduced level of pain as perceived by the patients having ICC 0.95.	12 Months
CBTT (Cricket Ball Throw Test)	This test evaluates upper limb strength and coordination by documenting the distance a cricket ball attained (in meters). More separation suggests better strength of the upper limbs and better place and movement of the limbs with ICC: 0.92.	12 months
VJT (Vertical Jump Test)	The VJT quantifies lower limb explosive power by only assessing the vertical jump height expressed in centimeters. Higher values denote better control of the lower extremities with ICC 0.95.	12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Superior University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 20, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 15, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 23, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 28, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 30, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 30, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 28, 2025
• Last Verified: March 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Back Pain; Low Back Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: MSRSW/Batch-Fall23/777

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