Core Strengthening Effects in Low Back Pain in Overweight Adults (NCT07727525) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Core Strengthening Effects in Low Back Pain in Overweight Adults
Pakistan60 participantsStarted 2023-01-15
Plain-language summary
Mechanical low back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders among overweight adults and can lead to pain, disability, and reduced quality of life. Weakness of the core muscles may contribute to poor spinal stability and persistence of symptoms. Core strengthening exercises have been proposed as an effective treatment; however, evidence regarding their additional benefit over conventional physical therapy remains limited.
This randomized controlled trial aimed to determine the effects of adding core strengthening exercises to conventional physical therapy in overweight adults with mechanical low back pain. Sixty participants aged 25-45 years with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m² or greater and chronic mechanical low back pain lasting more than three months were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group.
The experimental group received core strengthening exercises (planks, side planks, and superman exercises) in addition to conventional physical therapy, while the control group received conventional physical therapy alone. Both groups also received therapeutic hot packs and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Participants attended three treatment sessions per week for six weeks.
Primary outcomes included pain intensity measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), functional disability measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and body fat percentage measured using the Jackson-Pollock skinfold method. Outcomes were assessed before and after the six-week intervention.
The study evaluated whether adding core strengthening exercises to conventional physical therapy provides greater improvements in pain, disability, and body fat percentage in overweight adults with mechanical low back pain.
Who can participate
Age range
25 Years – 45 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
Male and female participants. Age between 25 and 45 years. Diagnosed with chronic mechanical low back pain lasting more than 3 months. Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m² (overweight or obese). Body fat percentage \> 25%. Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) score \< 7 at baseline. Able and willing to provide written informed consent. Willing to participate in the complete 6-week intervention program.
Exclusion Criteria:
Non-mechanical low back pain. Acute low back pain. Previous lumbar spine surgery (e.g., laminectomy or discectomy). Spondylolisthesis. Osteoporosis or spinal fractures. Cauda equina syndrome. Current history of spinal trauma or surgery. Lumbar spine myelopathy. Diagnosed metabolic diseases. Neurological disorders affecting the spine or lower limbs. Any medical condition that would contraindicate participation in the exercise program.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial focused on core strengthening for people with low back pain who are overweight — given my specific weight and back pain situation, does that match my profile closely enough that the results would be relevant to my care?
2The trial measured body fat percentage alongside pain and disability — does that mean my weight or body composition might be playing a role in my back pain, and should that be part of my treatment plan?
3Since this trial is already completed, have the results been published, and if so, what did they actually find about how much core strengthening reduced pain and improved function in overweight adults?
4This study is listed as Phase NA, which suggests it may have been a rehabilitation or exercise study rather than a drug trial — how does that affect how confident you are in the safety and effectiveness of core strengthening as a treatment approach for me?
5Before trying a core strengthening program based on this kind of research, are there any standard or existing treatments for mechanical low back pain I should consider first, or could we combine approaches?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Pain Intensity
Timeframe: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention
2
Functional Disability
Timeframe: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention
3
Body Fat Percentage
Timeframe: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention