Effects of Corrective Exercises on Lumbar Lordotic Angle Correction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Physical Therapy
• Spinal Biomechanics

Background:

• Lumbar lordosis is a critical spinal curvature, directly influencing pelvic mechanics.
• Abnormalities like hyperlordosis can affect spinal health and function.
• Understanding effective correction strategies is vital for managing spinal conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis evaluating the efficacy of different lumbar lordotic angle correction programs.
• To synthesize findings from multiple studies on corrective exercises for lumbar lordosis and hyperlordosis.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for relevant studies.
• Included original English articles focusing on lumbar lordosis/hyperlordosis, corrective exercises, and lumbar lordotic angle outcomes.

Main Results:

• A moderate, statistically significant effect size (SMD = 0.550, p < 0.001) was found for lumbar lordotic angle correction.
• Subgroup analyses showed significant improvements in both younger (SMD = 0.640) and older (SMD = 0.520) groups.
• Both treatment (SMD = 0.527) and no-treatment (SMD = 0.577) subgroups indicated positive effects, though the latter requires careful interpretation.

Conclusions:

• Various corrective methods demonstrate a positive effect on the lumbar lordotic angle in individuals with lordosis or hyperlordosis.
• Further research is needed to identify the most effective specific corrective interventions.
• These findings support the use of targeted exercises for improving spinal curvature and potentially alleviating associated pain.