The Effect of Core Stabilization Exercises Using a Sling on Pain and Muscle Strength of Patientswith Chronic Low Back Pain

Abstract

Abstract. [Purpose] This study examined the feasibility of using an intervention of core stabilization exercises using a sling to control pain and muscle strength of patients with chronic low back pain.[Subjects] The subjects, 30 chronic low back patients, were divided randomly into two exercise groups: one group performed core stabilization exercises using a sling (n=15), and the other group performed mat exercises group (n=15). Each exercise program was performed three days per week for four weeks. Pain and muscle strength were measured before and after the intervention. Pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and muscle strength was measured with a Tergumed device.[Results] The differences in the VAS scores for the sling exercise and mat exercise program were statistically significant between pre and post intervention in both groups. Muscle strength increases were also statistically significant. However, the comparison of sling exercise and mat exercise program showed no statistically significant differences between the groups, post-intervention.[Conclusion] Both the sling exercise and the mat exercise program reduced chronic low back pain improved patients' lumbar muscle strength, and decreased VAS scores; and the sling exercise was more effective than the mat exercise program. Further study is needed to develop the sling exercise for effective use in clinical practice for the treatment of chronic low back pain.

Sling exercise for chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Six articles [56][57][58][59][60][61] were not available for full text [56,[59][60][61] or had incomplete outcome data [57,58], and the authors of these studies [56][57][58][59][60][61] did not respond to our repeated contacts. Thus, nine RCTs [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42] with a total of 706 participants were included in this study. Figure 1 shows the flow chart from initial results of publication searches to final inclusion or exclusion.…”

“…We included 9 single center randomized controlled trials [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42] aiming to examine the efficacy of SE on chronic LBP. Of these, one trial [34] was conducted in a primary care setting in Norway, seven trials [36][37][38][39][40][41][42] were done in Chinese hospitals, and one trial [35] was from Republic of Korea.…”

“…Of these, one trial [34] was conducted in a primary care setting in Norway, seven trials [36][37][38][39][40][41][42] were done in Chinese hospitals, and one trial [35] was from Republic of Korea. Trials [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42] were published between 2008 and 2012, and all [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42] but two [34,35] were published in Chinese language. The summarized characteristics of the studies [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42] included in our systematic review are presented in Table 1.…”

“…Data from a total of 706 participants (ranging from 29 to 246, only 3 studies [34,38,40] enrolled $100 individuals) were extracted of whom 98 received SE alone and 203 received SE combined with other therapies (151 combined with back school, 12 combined with magnetic field warmer vibration synthetic therapy, 20 combined with intermediate frequency electrotherapy, 10 combined with acupuncture therapy). 46% of the participants included in 8 trials [34,[36][37][38][39][40][41][42] were men, and sex was not reported for one trial [35]. The mean age of study patients ranged from 20.30 to 49.94 years.…”

“…Published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have assessed the effects of SE on the treatment of chronic LBP [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42]. However, RCTs that assess the effects of SE compared with other forms of exercise on self-reported pain in patients with chronic LBP have presented conflicting findings [34,35,38,41].…”