Isometric Stability vs. Isotonic Mobility for Chronic LBP

NCT07382232 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: PAUB
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability, often requiring primary care management. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of isometric versus isotonic exercise programs for LBP. Methods: Sixty adults with LBP were randomly assigned to two groups. Group A (n=30) performed isometric exercises, infrared therapy, and TENS. Group B (n=30) performed isotonic exercises with the same adjunct therapies. Pain (VAS), disability (MODI), and abdominal endurance were measured pre- and post-intervention. Keywords: Exercise therapy; low back pain; disability evaluation

Conditions

LBP

Keywords

Exercise therapy; LBP; Disability

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• VAS

  Measured using a 100-mm Visual Analogue Scale , where 0 mm represents "no pain" and 100 mm represents "the worst pain imaginable." Participants marked a point on the line corresponding to their current pain level. The Arabic version of the VAS has been validated as a reliable and responsive tool for pain assessment in clinical populations \[17\].

  4 WEEKS

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• MODI

  4WEEKS

• Muscular Endurance

  4WWEKS

Study Arms (2)

arm 1- Group A : Isometric Exercises

EXPERIMENTAL

• Isometric Exercise Group (IEG): This group performed a circuit of three core-stabilizing isometric exercises, each held for 10 seconds with brief rest intervals, for 5 complete repetitions. The exercises included: (a) Isometric Curl-Up, (b) Side Bridge, and (c) Bird Dog. The total dedicated exercise time was approximately 20 minutes per session.

Other: Isometric exercises

arm2- Group B: Isotonic Exercises

EXPERIMENTAL

Isotonic Exercise Group (ITG): This group performed a circuit of three dynamic, strength-oriented isotonic exercises, each completed for 10 repetitions. The exercises included: (a) Bent Knee Sit-Up, (b) Cross Curl-Up, and (c) Prone Back Extension. The total dedicated exercise time was also approximately 20 minutes per session. All exercises were selected and adapted from previously published rehabilitation protocols for CLBP

Other: Isotonic exercises

Interventions

Isometric exercises OTHER

• Isometric Exercise Group (IEG): This group performed a circuit of three core-stabilizing isometric exercises, each held for 10 seconds with brief rest intervals, for 5 complete repetitions. The exercises included: (a) Isometric Curl-Up, (b) Side Bridge, and (c) Bird Dog. The total dedicated exercise time was approximately 20 minutes per session.

arm 1- Group A : Isometric Exercises

Isotonic exercises OTHER

• Isotonic Exercise Group (ITG): This group performed a circuit of three dynamic, strength-oriented isotonic exercises, each completed for 10 repetitions. The exercises included: (a) Bent Knee Sit-Up, (b) Cross Curl-Up, and (c) Prone Back Extension. The total dedicated exercise time was also approximately 20 minutes per session. All exercises were selected and adapted from previously published rehabilitation protocols for CLBP \[13\].

arm2- Group B: Isotonic Exercises

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Age between 18 and 60 years;
• Diagnosis of non-specific CLBP, defined as pain localized between the lower rib margin and the gluteal folds persisting for more than three months;
• Self-reported pain intensity score between 40 mm and 80 mm on a 100-mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), indicating moderate to severe pain;
• Pain experienced on at least three days in the month preceding enrollment, with documented interference in daily activities;
• A formal referral for physiotherapy management.

You may not qualify if:

• The presence of "red flag" pathologies (e.g., spinal tumor, infection, fracture); - Neurological signs or symptoms suggestive of radiculopathy or myelopathy;
• a history of spinal surgery or epidural steroid injections within the previous 12 months;
• Systemic inflammatory diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis) or major neurological disorders;
• Pregnancy;
• Receipt of physiotherapy for low back pain within the last six months;
• Current use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or inability to refrain from their use during the study period;
• Any diagnosed psychiatric condition.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Palestine Ahliya University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Palestine Ahliya University

Bethlehem, West Bank, 3600700, Palestinian Territories

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Exercise

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Palestine Ahliya University is located in Jabal Daher, Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestine, with a mailing address of PO Box 1041, Bethlehem, ZIP code 90907

Model Details: Group A: Isometric Exercises Group B: Isotonic Exercises

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 25, 2026
• First Posted: February 2, 2026
• Study Start: February 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2025
• Study Completion: August 1, 2025
• Last Updated: February 2, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)