The Role of Core and Functional Exercises in Low Back and Neck Pain

Plain-language summary

Low back and neck pain are common health problems that can negatively affect daily life activities in healthy women. A significant proportion of adults worldwide experience low back or neck pain at some point in their lives, leading to loss of physical function, reduced work capacity, and decreased quality of life. Women who work at desk-based jobs are particularly prone to such pain due to prolonged sitting, computer use, and non-ergonomic postures. Poor posture habits, weak core muscles, and low postural awareness are among the main causes of low back and neck pain. Strengthening the core muscles, enhancing spinal and pelvic stability, improving muscular endurance, and increasing postural awareness are effective methods to reduce the risk of low back and neck pain. Functional strength exercises support safe and effective movement in daily life activities by improving muscle strength, endurance, and coordination. These exercises are important not only for treating existing pain but also as part of preventive health strategies. Preventive exercise programs can reduce the risk of pain and functional loss in healthy individuals, thereby improving long-term quality of life. Although various exercise approaches have been examined in the literature for the prevention of low back and neck pain, studies comparing core and postural stabilization exercises with functional strength exercises in healthy women are limited. This gap does not provide physiotherapists and health professionals with clear evidence on which exercise approach is more effective. This study aims to compare the effects of core and postural stabilization exercises versus functional strength exercises on the risk of low back and neck pain during daily activities in healthy women. The findings of this study are expected to guide the design and implementation of preventive exercise programs for healthy women.

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