Dual-Task Neuromuscular Warm-Up Exercises in Chronic Low Back Pain

N/ANot Yet RecruitingNCT07761247

Istinye University40 enrolled

Overview

This study aims to investigate the immediate effects of dual-task neuromuscular warm-up exercises on balance and proprioception in individuals with chronic nonspecific low back pain. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a dual-task neuromuscular warm-up exercise group or a neuromuscular warm-up exercise group. Both groups will also receive the same conventional physiotherapy program. Balance, proprioception, lumbar muscle properties, pressure pain threshold, and flexibility will be assessed before and after the intervention to determine whether adding cognitive tasks to neuromuscular warm-up exercises provides additional immediate benefits.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Interventions

Participants will perform neuromuscular warm-up exercises combined with cognitive tasks, including single-leg balance with backward counting, squats with word generation, tandem walking with counting, balance pad standing with a memory task, and step-up exercises with a reaction task. Participants will also receive the same conventional physiotherapy program, including hot pack, TENS, therapeutic exercises, and breathing exercises.

Neuromuscular Warm-Up ExerciseOTHER

Participants will perform the same neuromuscular warm-up exercises without cognitive tasks, including single-leg balance, squats, tandem walking, balance pad standing, and step-up exercises. Participants will also receive the same conventional physiotherapy program, including hot pack, TENS, therapeutic exercises, and breathing exercises.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 50 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed with nonspecific low back pain persisting for at least 3 months. * Pain intensity of ≥3 on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). * Sufficient cognitive ability to understand and follow verbal and written instructions in Turkish. * Independent mobility sufficient to perform the tests and exercises. * Willingness to participate and provision of written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Acute disc herniation, spinal stenosis, spondylolysis, or spondylolisthesis. * Previous spinal surgery or a history of severe trauma affecting the spine. * Rheumatic diseases, malignancy, infection, or neurological diseases that may cause low back pain. * Sensory or motor loss in the lower extremities or deep tendon reflex loss indicating radiculopathy. * Known vestibular or visual system disorders. * Body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m². * Pregnancy. * Physiotherapy/rehabilitation treatment or steroid injection targeting the lumbar region within the previous 3 months. * Use of analgesics, muscle relaxants, or sedatives within the previous 24 hours that may affect balance or pain threshold. * Other orthopedic or systemic health conditions that may interfere with exercise or balance testing.