Lumbar stabilization exercises in addition to strengthening and stretching exercises reduce pain and increase function in patients with chronic low back pain

OBJECTIVE: Lumbar stabilization exercises aim to activate and strengthen deep abdominal and back muscles. Exercise program, presented in this study, combines activation of specific lumbar stabilizing muscles with traditional strengthening and stretching exercises. The main goal of this study was to establish the effect of stabilization exercises on pain reduction and funcionality in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective randomized clinical study was conducted in the Clinical Center Nis, from January 2007 until March 2009. 160 patients with CLBP were eligible and met the inclusion criteria. The study group (S; n=100) had specific lumbar stabilization exercises, while the patients in the control group (C; n=60) performed traditional program for CLBP, based on the strengthening and stretching of the large, superficial back muscles. For monitoring patients, Oswestry Disability Score (ODS) and Short-form 36 (SF- 36), were used. RESULTS: After the therapy, pain was successfully reduced in both groups with higher statistical significance in the study group: p<0.001. Improvement of ODS was statistically more significant in study group compared to the control group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Stabilization exercises proved to be a significant addition to the traditional programs, regarding pain reduction and functional improvement in CLBP patients.