AB0837-HPR Core stability exercises: in water or on land? comparison of the effects of two different core stabilization trainings

Abstract

Background Core stabilization exercises have a theoretical basis and are used in the treatment of low back pain. But the effects of core stability exercises performed in water are unknown. Objectives To determine and compare the effects of Core stability exercise programs performed in different environments in low back pain (LBP) patients. Methods Twenty-three patients (47.78±13.20 years) and fifteen age-sex matched healthy controls (46.67±13.69) were included to the study. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups as Core Stabilization (CS) or Water Specific Therapy (WST). Both groups underwent 8-weeks (3 times a week) core stabilization exercises in different environments. The assessments for pain, static endurance of trunk muscles, functional status and quality of life were performed before and after the treatment. Results Level of static endurance of trunk muscles was found lower in the patients compared to the controls at baseline (p<0.05). Both groups showed significant improvements in all outcomes (p<0.05) after 8-weeks intervention. When two groups were compared, no differences were found in the amount of change after the intervention (p>0.05). After the treatment static endurance of trunk muscles of LBP patients became similar to controls (p>0.05). Conclusions According to these results, core stabilization exercisetrainings performed on land or in water both could be beneficial in LBP patients and there is no difference between environments. References Hayden JA, van Tulder MW, MalmivaaraA et al. Exercise therapy for treatment of non-specific low back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005 Jul 20;(3):CD000335. Waller B, Lambeck J, Daly D. Therapeutic aquatic exercise in the treatment of low back pain: a systematic review. ClinRehabil 2009 Jan;23(1): 3-14. Barr KP, Griggs M, Cadby T. Lumbar stabilization: core concepts and current literature, Part 1. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2005 Jun;84(6):473-80. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

The effect of an exercise program in water on pain level and functional status in chronic nonspecific low back pain patients: A single-blind randomised controlled trial

“…The water-based group demonstrated greater improvement in these two measures compared with the land group (F 2 ) ( Table 2). Similar to the results of the present study, some other studies also revealed the effectiveness of exercising in water [12,17,20], in contradiction to others that found no difference between land-based and water-based exercise [18,19,28].…”

“…Two other studies were published comparing the effect of stability exercise in water and on land for LBP patients. However, no difference was found in these studies between the water program and land program [19,29]. Earlier studies from the 1980s and 1990s reported positive effect of water exercise [30,31].…”

“…Only a small number of researchers have investigated the effect of water-based exercise on LBP. some studies revealed the effectiveness of exercising in water [12,17], while others found no difference between land-based exercise and waterbased exercise [18,19]. Waller and colleagues [20] conducted a systematic literature review, and found suffi cient results supporting the greater benefi ts of water-based exercise for people suffering from LBP; they noted the important potential of water-based exercise, but nevertheless emphasized the need for high-quality trials.…”