Effect of movement control and stabilization exercises in people with extension related non -specific low back pain- a pilot study

Background Exercise is considered an effective treatment strategy for non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP).background In spite of the wide use of exercise protocols, it is not clear what type of exercise is more effective in decreasing pain, disability and normalizing muscle activation patterns in people with chronic low back pain. Objectives To assess the effects of two exercise protocols (stabilization vs movement control) on pain and disability scores and the flexion relaxation ratio (FRR) of lumbar multifidus (LM) and iliocostalis lumbarum pars thoracic (ICLT) in people with extension related non-specific chronic low back pain. Study design Pilot randomized control trial. Methods 32 subjects with active extension pattern chronic low back pain (stabilization group = 16, movement control group = 16) participated in this study. Treatment groups received 4 weeks of exercise therapy. Outcomes were based on pain score (Numeric rating Scale-NRS), disability (Oswestry Disability Index- ODI) and FRR of the LM and ICLT. Results Four people dropped out of the study in each group for reasons unrelated to the protocols of the study. Pain and disability reduced in both groups, with no significant difference between the groups. The FRR of LM did not change in either treatment group after treatment. However, the FRR of ICLT was significantly increased after treatment in the movement control group. Conclusion Both movement control and stabilization exercises reduced pain and disability in the short-term among people with extension pattern NSCLBP, with no difference in effectiveness between the groups. However, movement control exercises were more effective in normalizing back muscle activation patterns than stabilization exercises.