Effects Of Sahrmann's Versus McGill Exercise In Patients With Non-Specific Low Back Pain

NCT07659327 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: REC/RCR & AHS/25/0137
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 42
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether Sahrmann exercises or McGill exercises are more effective for reducing pain and improving function in adults with non-specific low back pain. It will also evaluate which exercise program is more effective in improving spinal range of motion. The main questions it aims to answer are: Do Sahrmann exercises reduce pain more effectively than McGill exercises? Do Sahrmann exercises improve disability more effectively than McGill exercises? Do Sahrmann exercises improve lumbar range of motion more effectively than McGill exercises? Researchers will compare a Sahrmann exercise program with a McGill exercise program to determine which approach produces better outcomes in patients with non-specific low back pain. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to either a Sahrmann exercise group or a McGill exercise group. Receive standard physical therapy treatment, including heat therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Perform the assigned exercise program under the supervision of a physiotherapist. Attend exercise sessions 3-5 times per week during the study period. Complete assessments of pain, disability, and lumbar range of motion before and after the intervention. Have pain measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), disability measured using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and lumbar range of motion measured using a Baseline Bubble Inclinometer.

Conditions

Non-specific Low Back Pain (NSLBP)

Keywords

non-specific low back pain, pain management, Disability Evaluation, Exercise Therapy, Rehabilitation, sahrmann' exercise, McGill exercise

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)

  In the current study, patients with NPRS score 3-7 will be recruited. Patient level of pain will be assessed using this scale. NRS is 11-points (NRS-11) which counts the pain and is wildly used in clinical settings because it is easy to administer and score. The patient is asked to indicate the value of his pain on the scale. A 11-point scale was used, with "0" representing "no pain" and "10" representing the "most severe pain imaginable" at the time of assessment (10). The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) demonstrates moderate to excellent test-retest reliability with ICC values ranging from 0.58 to 0.93, and good construct validity with correlation coefficients of 0.48 to 0.54

  upto 6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)

  upto 6 weeks

• Baseline Bubble Inclinometer

  upto 6 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Group A: (Sahrmann's Exercises)

EXPERIMENTAL

The patients in this group will receive conventional Sahrmann's exercises along with baseline treatment for non-specific low back pain.

Other: Sahrmann's Exercises

Group B: (McGill Exercises)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The patients in this group will receive McGill Exercises along with baseline treatment for non-specific low back pain.

Other: McGill Exercises

Interventions

Sahrmann's Exercises OTHER

Group A will receive sahrmann's exercises after the baseline treatment. It will be including 5 levels: Level 1 The participant slowly raised one leg to a position of approximately 90° hip flexion with 90° knee flexion. Level 2 From the final position of the previous level, the participant slowly lowered one leg such that the heel contacted the ground/plinth. Level 3 From the end position of level 1, the participant slowly lowered one leg such that the heel reached approximate 12cm above the ground. Then the leg slid out to fully extend the knee. Level 4 From the final position of level 1, the participant slowly lowered both legs together such that the heels contacted the plinth. Then the legs slid out to fully extend the knees. Level 5 From the final position of level 1, the participant slowly lowered both legs simultaneously such that the heels reached 12 cm above the ground. The legs then slid out to fully extend the knees.

Group A: (Sahrmann's Exercises)

McGill Exercises OTHER

Patients will receive three exercises for rehabilitating lower back pain, termed the McGill Big Three (MGB3). Mcgill begins with motion exercise (cat-camel motion exercise. It consists of six to eight cycle of spinal flexion and extension in quadruped position. 1. Curl-up In which patient flexes one knee while keeping the other straight to minimize loss neutral posture. Then, the patient gently raises just the head and shoulders a short distance off the floor. 2. Side plank The patient lying on the side supported on his elbow and hip, knees bent to 90 degrees, free hand place on the opposite shoulder. The patient then raises his trunk until the body supported on elbows and knees. If patient not able to perform side support exercise, the patient would assume the side lying position and initiate the contraction of quadratus lumborum by trying to lift both lower limbs up toward the ceiling. 3. Bird-dog The bird dog exercise (opposite arm and leg extension in the quadruped position) carri

Group B: (McGill Exercises)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Diagnosed patients of non-specific low back pain Adults between 18-35 years. Both male and female included Low back pain for minimum of three months NPRS score 3-7 will be recruited in this study.

You may not qualify if:

• History of any trauma and spinal injury History of previous lumbar surgery History of cancer, spinal infection, rheumatologic diseases, spine fracture, red flag signs.
• Congenital anomly (scoliosis, kyphosis) Systemic diseases affecting bones \& joints such as rheumatoid arthritis

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Related Publications (10)

• Bielewicz J, Daniluk B, Kamieniak P. VAS and NRS, Same or Different? Are Visual Analog Scale Values and Numerical Rating Scale Equally Viable Tools for Assessing Patients after Microdiscectomy? Pain Res Manag. 2022 Mar 29;2022:5337483. doi: 10.1155/2022/5337483. eCollection 2022.

  PMID: 35391853 BACKGROUND

• Hernandez-Lucas P, Leiros-Rodriguez R, Mota J, Garcia-Soidan JL. Effects of a back school-based intervention on non-specific low back pain in adults: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2023 Jul 10;23(1):229. doi: 10.1186/s12906-023-04061-1.

  PMID: 37430269 BACKGROUND

• Niroomand T, Rabiei M, Mohammadi BJJoAST. Investigating the Effects Janda's and Sahrmann's Correcting Exercise Approaches on Trunk Muscles Function in Young Girls with Lower Crossed Syndrome. 2023;7(3):48-58.

  BACKGROUND

• Ghorbanpour A, Azghani MR, Taghipour M, Salahzadeh Z, Ghaderi F, Oskouei AE. Effects of McGill stabilization exercises and conventional physiotherapy on pain, functional disability and active back range of motion in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. J Phys Ther Sci. 2018 Apr;30(4):481-485. doi: 10.1589/jpts.30.481. Epub 2018 Apr 13.

  PMID: 29706690 BACKGROUND

• Ahmad SNS, Letafatkar A, Brewer BW, Sharifnezhad A. Comparison of cognitive functional therapy and movement system impairment treatment in chronic low back pain patients: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2023 Aug 29;24(1):684. doi: 10.1186/s12891-023-06815-x.

  PMID: 37644472 BACKGROUND

• Alkhathami K, Alshehre Y, Brizzolara K, Weber M, Wang-Price S. Effectiveness of Spinal Stabilization Exercises on Movement Performance in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2023 Feb 1;18(1):169-172. doi: 10.26603/001c.68024. eCollection 2023.

  PMID: 36793568 BACKGROUND

• Chan EWM, Hamid MSA, Nadzalan AM, Hafiz E. Abdominal muscle activation: An EMG study of the Sahrmann five-level core stability test. Hong Kong Physiother J. 2020 Dec;40(2):89-97. doi: 10.1142/S1013702520500080. Epub 2020 Mar 10.

  PMID: 33005073 BACKGROUND

• Hlaing SS, Puntumetakul R, Khine EE, Boucaut R. Effects of core stabilization exercise and strengthening exercise on proprioception, balance, muscle thickness and pain related outcomes in patients with subacute nonspecific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021 Nov 30;22(1):998. doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-04858-6.

  PMID: 34847915 BACKGROUND

• Alonso-Sal A, Alonso-Perez JL, Sosa-Reina MD, Garcia-Noblejas-Fernandez JA, Balani-Balani VG, Rossettini G, Villafane JH. Effectiveness of Physical Activity in the Management of Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review. Medicina (Kaunas). 2024 Dec 16;60(12):2065. doi: 10.3390/medicina60122065.

  PMID: 39768944 BACKGROUND

• Morotani M. General principles of the Movement System Impairment diagnostic system. The Journal of Manual Physical Therapy. 2022;22(1):29-35.

  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Agnosia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Perceptual Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Fatima Khan, MSPT*

  Riphah International University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Sumrod Akram

CONTACT

03324806143; samrood.akram@riphah.edu.pk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 16, 2026
• First Posted: June 22, 2026
• Study Start: July 30, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 30, 2026
• Last Updated: June 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share