This study was conducted to compare the results of McKenzie extension exercises and motor control exercises, with a combined exercise program on pain intensity, core muscle endurance and range of motion and quality of life in those suffering from persistent, non-specific low back pain.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
54
Participants received a McKenzie-based extension exercise program consisting of repeated lumbar extension movements performed in lying and standing positions. The exercises were prescribed and supervised by a physical therapist according to standardized McKenzie principles. The intervention focused on symptom centralization, pain reduction, and improvement in lumbar range of motion and functional ability in individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain.
Participants received a motor control exercise program aimed at improving activation, coordination, and endurance of deep trunk muscles, including the transversus abdominis and multifidus. Exercises were supervised by a physical therapist and progressed according to patient tolerance. The intervention focused on enhancing spinal stability, reducing pain, and improving functional performance.
Surgimed Hospital, Lahore
Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan
Pain Intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale)
Pain intensity was assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), an 11-point scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Participants reported their average pain intensity, with higher scores indicating greater pain severity.
Time frame: From enrollment till the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Trunk Muscle Endurance (Biering-Sorensen Test)
Trunk extensor muscle endurance was measured using the Biering-Sorensen test. Participants maintained the horizontal prone position with the upper body unsupported for as long as possible, and the duration was recorded in seconds as a measure of trunk muscle endurance.
Time frame: From enrollment till the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Lumbar Range of Motion
Lumbar range of motion was assessed using a goniometer to measure flexion and extension movements of the lumbar spine. Measurements were recorded in degrees, with higher values indicating greater spinal mobility.
Time frame: From enrollment till the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Functional Disability (Oswestry Disability Index)
Functional disability was evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), a validated self-reported questionnaire assessing disability related to low back pain. Scores were calculated as percentages, with higher scores indicating greater disability.
Time frame: From enrollment till the end of treatment at 6 weeks
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Participants received a combined exercise program consisting of McKenzie extension exercises and motor control exercises. The intervention integrated repeated lumbar extension movements with trunk stabilization and motor control training. All exercises were supervised by a physical therapist and aimed to improve pain intensity, lumbar range of motion, muscle endurance, and functional disability.