Review of core stability exercise versus conventional exercise in the management of chronic low back pain

Exercise has been proven to be effective in the management of chronic low back pain. Over the years, core stability exercise (CSE) has gained popularity however there is lack of consensus on the best exercise treatment.

To review the effectiveness of core stability exercises or conventional exercises in the management of chronic low back pain (CLBP).

This study is a systematic review of randomized clinical trials which examined studies regarding core stability and conventional exercise by using Google scholar, Medline, PEDro and Cochrane from 2010 to 2021. The Methodological quality was evaluated using the PEDro scale. The included studies randomized participants into two different exercise groups.

From the 58 potentially relevant trials, a total of 14 trials were included in the current analysis. The data indicated that core stability exercise was better than conventional exercise for short term pain relief. Ten studies included self reported back specific functional status, and compared to conventional exercise, core stability exercise resulted in significant improvement in function.

Compared to conventional exercise, core stability exercise is more effective in pain reduction and improved physical function in individuals with CLBP in the short term however, only two trials carried out follow-up assessments post intervention.