EFFECTIVENESS OF CORE STABILIZATION EXERCISES ON FUNCTIONAL MOBILITY IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN: RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Abstract

Background: Chronic low back pain is among the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders globally, leading to significant disability and reduced quality of life. Conventional physiotherapy often provides temporary relief but fails to address the neuromuscular deficits underlying spinal instability. Core stabilization exercises have gained clinical attention for their potential to enhance spinal control, improve functional movement, and alleviate pain through targeted activation of deep trunk musculature.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of core stabilization exercises on functional mobility, pain intensity, and trunk muscle endurance among individuals with chronic low back pain.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in physiotherapy centers across South Punjab, including sixty participants aged 25–50 years diagnosed with chronic low back pain of more than twelve weeks’ duration. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group receiving core stabilization exercises or a control group receiving conventional physiotherapy for twelve weeks. Functional mobility was assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, pain intensity using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and trunk endurance using the Prone Plank Test. Data were analyzed using independent and paired t-tests for normally distributed data, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: The intervention group showed significantly greater improvements in all outcome measures compared with the control group. Mean TUG time decreased from 11.8 ± 1.5 to 7.9 ± 1.1 seconds (p < 0.001), VAS scores reduced from 7.3 ± 1.0 to 2.9 ± 0.9 (p < 0.001), and plank endurance increased from 36.5 ± 8.2 to 68.9 ± 11.3 seconds (p < 0.001). No adverse events were reported.

Conclusion: Core stabilization exercises significantly improved mobility, reduced pain, and enhanced trunk endurance in chronic low back pain patients, supporting their integration into routine physiotherapy practice.