Effects of Core Strengthening Versus Motor Control Training on Pain, Disability & Endurance in Low Back Pain

NCT ID: NCT06756685

Last Updated: 2025-08-29

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 74 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-08-07
• Study Completion Date: 2025-01-10

Brief Summary

The study aims to compare the effects of core strengthening versus motor control training on pain, disability & endurance in patients with low back pain

Detailed Description

The study aims to compare the effects of core strengthening versus motor control training on pain, disability & endurance in patients with low back pain.

Comparing core strength and conditioning versus motor control for low back pain on physical and self-report outcomes lies in identifying the most effective treatment approach for this condition. This will help to determine which one yields better results in terms of improving physical function and reducing self-reported pain and disability associated with low back pain. This study can provide valuable insights for clinicians and patients in selecting the most appropriate treatment option.

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Core Strengthening Exercises

Core Strengthening Exercises

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Core Strengthening Exercises

Intervention Type: OTHER

The Core Strengthening Program participants will have supervised gym-based sessions for 8 weeks. In the first 4 weeks , participants will attend two 1 hour training sessions, followed by self-selected one or two sessions per week. The session will begin with 20min of aerobic conditioning of walking or running on a treadmill, starting at 65% and moving to 85% of HR max. The 5 key elements of focus are i. Centering ii. Breathing iii. Head and neck placement iv. Shoulder placement v. Chest wall placement

Motor Control Training

Motor Control Training

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Motor Control Training

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants in Motor Control group will receive two physiotherapy sessions of 1hour / week in the first 4 weeks, during stage 1. i. Abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) : isometric contraction of the local stability muscles (e.g., lumbar multifidus, transversus abdominis) in minimally loading positions (supine lying, quadruped, sitting, and standing) by maintaining a neutral spine while maintaining normal breathing. During Phase 2, One 1 hour session / week in the second 4 weeks.

Activation and facilitation of transversus abdominis, lumbar multifidus and pelvic floor motor control(36).Exercises target the transversus abdominis, multifidus and pelvic floor muscles plus postural correction to restore optimal motor control during non-weight-bearing activities. Exercises and progressions will follow previous protocols of motor control exercise.

Interventions

Core Strengthening Exercises

The Core Strengthening Program participants will have supervised gym-based sessions for 8 weeks. In the first 4 weeks , participants will attend two 1 hour training sessions, followed by self-selected one or two sessions per week. The session will begin with 20min of aerobic conditioning of walking or running on a treadmill, starting at 65% and moving to 85% of HR max. The 5 key elements of focus are i. Centering ii. Breathing iii. Head and neck placement iv. Shoulder placement v. Chest wall placement

Intervention Type: OTHER

Motor Control Training

Participants in Motor Control group will receive two physiotherapy sessions of 1hour / week in the first 4 weeks, during stage 1. i. Abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) : isometric contraction of the local stability muscles (e.g., lumbar multifidus, transversus abdominis) in minimally loading positions (supine lying, quadruped, sitting, and standing) by maintaining a neutral spine while maintaining normal breathing. During Phase 2, One 1 hour session / week in the second 4 weeks.

Activation and facilitation of transversus abdominis, lumbar multifidus and pelvic floor motor control(36).Exercises target the transversus abdominis, multifidus and pelvic floor muscles plus postural correction to restore optimal motor control during non-weight-bearing activities. Exercises and progressions will follow previous protocols of motor control exercise.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Non-specific Chronic low back pain (>3 months)
• Pain between the T12 vertebra and gluteal fold with pain of 2-8 on the numerical rating scale of 0-10
• Both Genders
• Age of 25 and above

Exclusion Criteria

• Participants fall in this category would be excluded of the study.

• Lumbar radiculopathy
• Structural scoliosis
• Traumatic spinal injury
• Cauda equina syndrome
• History of seizures, epilepsy, stroke or head injury
• Metal implants
• Pregnancy or considering pregnancy in near future
• Body mass >/= 100kg

• Minimum Eligible Age: 25 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 60 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Riphah International University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Sabiha Fayyaz, MS-NMPT*

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Riphah International University

Locations

Mediplex Health Care Center

Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, Pakistan

Countries

Pakistan

Other Identifiers

014384/Sabiha Fayyaz

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id