Comparison of the Effect of Eight-Week Core Stabilization Exercises and General Physiotherapy Exercise on Core Endurance, Balance, and Pain in Women with Chronic Low Back Pain due to Disc Herniation: A pilot study

Sadeghi, Morteza; Mokhtari, Fatemeh

doi:10.22084/rsr.2025.30469.1762

Comparison of the Effect of Eight-Week Core Stabilization Exercises and General Physiotherapy Exercise on Core Endurance, Balance, and Pain in Women with Chronic Low Back Pain due to Disc Herniation: A pilot study

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

morteza sadeghi ¹

Fatemeh mokhtari ²

¹ Assistant Professor of Corrective Exercise and Sport Injuries, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

² MA of Corrective Exercise and Sport Injuries, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.

10.22084/rsr.2025.30469.1762

Abstract

Background and Aim: Low back pain is a pervasive and debilitating musculoskeletal disorder that requires rehabilitation programs. This study compared the effects of core stabilization and general physiotherapy exercises on core endurance, balance, and pain in women with chronic low back pain related to disc herniation.
Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 64 female patients with chronic back pain were randomly selected and assigned to two equal groups, matched deliberately and in a systematic way according to their VAS questionnaire scores. Individuals in both the core stability exercises group and the general exercise protocol group performed the assigned exercises for eight weeks. Evaluations were conducted prior to and following training using the Quebec questionnaire, the McGill endurance test, and the Y balance test to evaluate pain, core endurance, and balance. The repeated-measures ANOVA test was used to investigate the within- and between-group differences. SPSS software version 27 was used for data analysis at the P = 0.05 level.
Results: In the core stabilization exercise group, compared with the general physical therapy exercises, there was a more significant reduction in pain (p ≤ 0.05), improvement in muscle endurance, and improvement in dynamic balance (p ≤ 0.05).
Conclusion: Core stability exercises can be recommended as a complementary treatment method for patients with chronic back pain induced by disc herniation.

Keywords

Chronic low back pain

Physiotherapy

Core Stabilization Exercise

Balance

Pain

Subjects