English Abstract
Abstract :
Background: Lumbar functional instability (LFI) may be associated with chronic
low back pain (CLBP). Various therapeutic exercises were proposed to enhance spinal
stability, such as core stability exercises (CSE) and deep breathing training (DBT).
However, no study has examined and compared the effectiveness of delivering these
exercises as an online program on patients with CLBP and LFI.
Purpose: To evaluate and compare the short-term effects of three online exercise
programs (DBT, CSE, and combined DBT+CSE) in females with CLBP and LFI.
Method: A quasi-experimental study involving seventy-eight women aged
between 25-40 years old. Participants were allocated into one of the three online
therapeutic exercise program groups or the wait-list control group. All therapeutic
programs were performed three times a week for four weeks. The intensity of LBP
[Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)], functional disability [Oswestry Disability Index
(ODI)], and core muscle endurance [Prone Bridge Test (PBT)] were measured at the
baseline, end of the second week, and end of the fourth week of intervention.
Results: All outcome measurements showed improvements at the end of four
weeks in all groups (NPRS: ≥ 3.3 points, P<0.001; ODI: ≥ 12.4%, P<0.001; PBT: 2
18.7 sec, P<0.001), except the control group (NPRS: 0.3 points, P=0.174; ODI: 0.9%,
P=0.149; PBT: 1.1sec, P=0.079). However, there were no differences between the three
online therapeutic groups in any outcome measure (P>0.05), except that the combined
DBT+CSE group showed statistically better improvement than the DBT group in PBT
(19.3sec, P=0.028). This difference between the DBT+CSE and DBT did not reach the
minimal detectable change.
Conclusion: The three online therapeutic exercise programs effectively reduced
LBP intensity and improved functional status and core muscle endurance, with no
program being superior to the others. Further investigation is required through
comparing the same online exercise programs with the in-clinic exercise method.
Keywords: Chronic low back pain, core stability exercises, deep breathing
training, lumbar functional instability, online program.
