The Role of Core and Functional Exercises in Low Back and Neck Pain

Official title

The Effectiveness of Core and Functional Strength Exercises in Preventing Low Back and Neck Pain in Healthy Women

Overview

Low back and neck pain are common health problems that can negatively affect daily life activities in healthy women. A significant proportion of adults worldwide experience low back or neck pain at some point in their lives, leading to loss of physical function, reduced work capacity, and decreased quality of life. Women who work at desk-based jobs are particularly prone to such pain due to prolonged sitting, computer use, and non-ergonomic postures. Poor posture habits, weak core muscles, and low postural awareness are among the main causes of low back and neck pain. Strengthening the core muscles, enhancing spinal and pelvic stability, improving muscular endurance, and increasing postural awareness are effective methods to reduce the risk of low back and neck pain. Functional strength exercises support safe and effective movement in daily life activities by improving muscle strength, endurance, and coordination. These exercises are important not only for treating existing pain but also as part of preventive health strategies. Preventive exercise programs can reduce the risk of pain and functional loss in healthy individuals, thereby improving long-term quality of life. Although various exercise approaches have been examined in the literature for the prevention of low back and neck pain, studies comparing core and postural stabilization exercises with functional strength exercises in healthy women are limited. This gap does not provide physiotherapists and health professionals with clear evidence on which exercise approach is more effective. This study aims to compare the effects of core and postural stabilization exercises versus functional strength exercises on the risk of low back and neck pain during daily activities in healthy women. The findings of this study are expected to guide the design and implementation of preventive exercise programs for healthy women.

Detailed description

The aim of this study is to compare the effects of core and postural stabilization exercises and functional strength exercises onthe risk of low back and neck pain during daily activities in healthy women. The study was designed as a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Healthy women aged 20-40 years were included in the study.A total of 45 participants, with 15 in each group, took part in the study. Randomization was performed using a computer-generated randomization list. Individuals who agreed to participate were first evaluated for eligibility according to the study's inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eligible participants were then randomly assigned to one of three groups with an equal allocation ratio (1:1:1).One day after the initial assessment, participants received an educational session on lifestyle modifications related to healthy living and women's health. The Core and Postural Stabilization Exercise Group and the Functional Strength Exercise Group performed a total of 18 exercise sessions, three times per week over six weeks. The Education Group, on the other hand, was directed to either the Core and Postural Stabilization or the Functional Strength program according to their preference after the completion of the study.Participants will be evaluated twice: at the beginning of the study and at the end of the 6-week treatment.

Interventions

• Other core exercises
  The participants performed core exercises three times per week for a total of six weeks
• Other functional strength exercises
  The participants performed functional strength exercises three times per week for a total of six weeks.
• Other education group
  During the educational session, participants were provided with information on proper posture, ergonomic movements, the importance of posture in daily life, and pain management.

Primary outcome measures

• Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) [Time frame: 6 week]
• Visual Analog Scale (VAS) [Time frame: 6 week]
• Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) [Time frame: 6 week]
• Neck Disability Index (NDI) [Time frame: 6 week]

Secondary outcome measures (3)

• Functional Movement Screen (FMS) [Time frame: 6 week]
• Plank and Side Plank Tests [Time frame: 6 week]
• Sit-to-Stand Test [Time frame: 6 week]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Absence of any chronic musculoskeletal, neurological, or cardiovascular disorders,
• Not engaging in regular exercise or performing physical activity less than twice a week,
• Presence of low back or neck pain not attributable to pathology during daily activities,
• No history of major orthopedic surgery within the last six months.

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals with severe orthopedic, neurological, or cardiovascular diseases,
• Those who have undergone surgical interventions involving the lumbar or cervical regions within the past six months,
• Individuals who regularly participate in physiotherapy or structured exercise programs.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Open label

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

Turkey (Türkiye) · 2 centers

• Batman University — Batman
• Batman Center — Batman

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07190898 · BAU-FTR-MYK-02

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗