Core stabilization exercise prescription, part I: current concepts in assessment and intervention

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science
• Motor Control

Background:

• Low back injuries significantly impact athletic performance and participation.
• Therapeutic core stabilization exercises are a common conservative treatment for low back pain and dysfunction.
• These exercises aim to address pain and musculoskeletal issues in athletes with lumbar pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize current research on core stabilization strategies for athletes with low back pain.
• To identify popular rehabilitation approaches for assessing and improving core function.
• To highlight the ongoing debate regarding the optimal approach for managing athletic low back pain.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search of MEDLINE and CINAHL databases was conducted.
• The search covered the period from 1966 to March 2013.
• Relevant keywords included motor control exercise, segmental stabilization, core stabilization, transversus abdominis, multifidi, and low back pain.

Main Results:

• Two primary rehabilitation strategies for core function and stabilization have emerged.
• These strategies are grounded in biomechanical models of lumbar stability and observed motor control deficits.
• Both approaches aim to enhance core function in individuals experiencing low back pain.

Conclusions:

• There is ongoing controversy regarding the most effective core stabilization strategy for athletes with low back pain.
• Clinical and research communities hold differing views on the optimal rehabilitation approach.
• Further research may be needed to resolve the debate on best practices.