Core Endurance Versus Segmental Stabilization Exercise in Recreational Athletes With Low Back Pain
Comparison of the Effects of Core Endurance Exercises and Segmental Stabilization Exercises on Low Back Pain and Core Endurance in Recreational Athletes With Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Trial
Study Overview
Status
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Detailed Description
Design and setting This is a two-arm, parallel-group randomized trial conducted at a sports club facility.
Institutional permission for the study site has been obtained. Participants Recreational athletes who have recently begun regular physical activity and who report non-specific low back pain are enrolled. Participants provide written informed consent after receiving detailed information about the purpose of the study, the tests to be performed, and the exercise protocol. Sampling and randomization Convenience sampling is used to identify eligible participants, followed by simple random allocation to one of the two exercise groups: the core endurance exercise group or the segmental stabilization exercise group. Allocation is 1:1. Interventions Both exercise programs are delivered three days per week for six weeks. Segmental stabilization group: exercises target the transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus and comprise stabilization exercises in the quadruped position, transversus abdominis activation exercises in the supine position with the knees flexed, lumbar multifidus activation exercises in the prone position, and standing postural control exercises involving co-activation of the transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus.
Core endurance group: exercises are performed under the supervision of a certified physiotherapist and comprise the front plank, the side plank, and the superman plank.
Each exercise consists of 20 repetitions with a 15-second isometric hold per repetition.
The set is repeated twice, with a 3-minute rest between sets. In the front plank the participant is supported on the forearms and toes, with the shoulders aligned over the elbows and the trunk and lower limbs maintained in a straight line, producing simultaneous activation of the abdominal and paraspinal muscles. In the side plank the participant is supported on one forearm with the body held in a straight line, the shoulder aligned with the elbow and the pelvis lifted from the floor, targeting the oblique muscles. In the superman plank the participant lies prone with the arms extended overhead and simultaneously lifts the upper and lower limbs from the floor, producing trunk extension and targeting the lumbar extensor muscles. Outcome assessment Assessments are performed at baseline (week 0) and at the end of the six-week program (week 6). Demographic information including age, sex, and sports history is recorded.
Functional status and pain are assessed with the Micheli Functional Scale, dynamic balance with the Star Excursion Balance Test, and core muscle endurance with clinical endurance tests. Variables The independent variable is the type of exercise program (core endurance exercises versus segmental stabilization exercises). The dependent variables are pain level, core muscle endurance, and dynamic balance performance. Statistical analysis Normality of distribution is assessed with histogram curves and the Shapiro-Wilk test, and homogeneity of variance with the Levene test. Parametric or non-parametric tests are selected accordingly. Analyses are performed with IBM SPSS Statistics 20. Independent samples t-tests are used to compare demographic characteristics between groups. Multivariate analysis of variance is used to evaluate between-group and within-group changes, with time (baseline and post-intervention measurements) as the within-subject factor and group as the between-subject factor. Where a statistically significant difference is found, post-hoc analyses are performed with the Tukey test. Change scores between groups are also compared with independent samples t-tests.
Study Type
Enrollment (Estimated)
Phase
- Not Applicable
Contacts and Locations
Study Contact
- Name: ömer şevgin
- Phone Number: +905069787535
- Email: omer.sevgin@uskudar.edu.tr
Study Locations
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Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
- Recruiting
- Fitness club gym
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Contact:
- Armita Chitsaz
- Phone Number: +905456052365
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Participation Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
- Adult
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- 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
- Not participating in any other treatment program during the study period
Exclusion Criteria:
- Radicular (nerve root) signs
- Underlying systemic or visceral disease
- Diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis
- Spinal pathology such as spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis
- Previous lumbar spine surgery
- History of vestibular dysfunction
- Lower extremity injury within the past month
- History of traumatic concussion within the past three months
Study Plan
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Primary Purpose: Treatment
- Allocation: Randomized
- Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
- Masking: Single
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
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Experimental: Core endurance exercise
Participants perform a core endurance exercise program consisting of the front plank, the side plank, and the superman plank, three days per week for six weeks under physiotherapist supervision.
Each exercise consists of 20 repetitions with a 15-second isometric hold, repeated for two sets with a 3-minute rest between sets.
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Supervised 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.
Supervised 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.
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Active Comparator: Segmental stabilization exercise
Participants perform a segmental stabilization exercise program targeting the transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus, three days per week for six weeks under physiotherapist supervision.
The program comprises quadruped stabilization exercises, supine transversus abdominis activation with the knees flexed, prone lumbar multifidus activation, and standing postural control exercises involving co-activation of both muscles.
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Supervised 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. |
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
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Change in low back pain and functional status (Micheli Functional Scale)
Time Frame: Baseline (week 0) and at the end of the six-week exercise program (week 6)
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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.
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Baseline (week 0) and at the end of the six-week exercise program (week 6)
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Collaborators and Investigators
Sponsor
Investigators
- Study Chair: Armita Chitsaz, Uskudar University
Publications and helpful links
General Publications
- Franca FR, Burke TN, Hanada ES, Marques AP. Segmental stabilization and muscular strengthening in chronic low back pain: a comparative study. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2010;65(10):1013-7. doi: 10.1590/s1807-59322010001000015.
- Frizziero A, Pellizzon G, Vittadini F, Bigliardi D, Costantino C. Efficacy of Core Stability in Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2021 Apr 22;6(2):37. doi: 10.3390/jfmk6020037.
- Dal Farra F, Arippa F, Carta G, Segreto M, Porcu E, Monticone M. Sport and non-specific low back pain in athletes: a scoping review. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2022 Dec 23;14(1):216. doi: 10.1186/s13102-022-00609-9.
- Mortazavi J, Zebardast J, Mirzashahi B. Low Back Pain in Athletes. Asian J Sports Med. 2015 Jun;6(2):e24718. doi: 10.5812/asjsm.6(2)2015.24718. Epub 2015 Jun 20.
- Blanco-Gimenez P, Vicente-Mampel J, Gargallo P, Maroto-Izquierdo S, Martin-Ruiz J, Jaenada-Carrilero E, Barrios C. Effect of exercise and manual therapy or kinesiotaping on sEMG and pain perception in chronic low back pain: a randomized trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2024 Jul 25;25(1):583. doi: 10.1186/s12891-024-07667-9.
Study record dates
Study Major Dates
Study Start (Actual)
Primary Completion (Estimated)
Study Completion (Estimated)
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
First Posted (Actual)
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
Last Verified
More Information
Terms related to this study
Keywords
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- Uskudar27
- Uskudar University (Other Identifier: Non-Interventional Research Ethics Committee)
Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)
Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?
IPD Plan Description
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
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