Effect of trunk muscles training using a star excursion balance test grid on strength, endurance and disability in...

Though core muscles strengthening using upper limbs in various positions and lower limbs in lying have been studied previously in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), no study has specifically looked in to the effects of a training program that requires prior motor planning in standing (functional position). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of star excursion balance test (SEBT) grid training in improving the outcomes in patients with CLBP.

Sixty patients with mechanical CLBP who fulfilled our criteria were randomized in to two groups; experimental group received physical diagnostic specific interventions, core muscles strengthening and muscles training using the SEBT grid. The participants in control group received stationary cycling instead of SEBT grid training and the other interventions were uniform. The duration of study was 4 weeks. The dependent variables were analyzed using repeated measures 2 × 3 ANOVA.

At the end of study, both the groups showed a significant reduction in disability and improvement in strength and endurance (p< 0.05). Post-hoc analysis showed that SEBT grid training was better than conventional exercises. Follow-up at 16 weeks revealed a statistically insignificant loss in strength and endurance in control group patients. This reduction was not associated with an increase in disability score. The experimental group patients continued showing improvement.

The results of our study show that core muscles strengthening using a SEBT grid are more effective than conventional programs. We hypothesize SEBT training to have a significant role in skill learning. We recommend SEBT grid training to be incorporated in the treatment planning of persons with CLBP.