Core Stability Training in Young Adults With Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain

NCT07686237 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2018010748
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Chronic non-specific low back pain is common among young adults and can lead to persistent pain, reduced physical function, decreased muscle strength, and impaired balance, affecting daily activities and quality of life. Core stability exercises are widely used in rehabilitation programs for low back pain, but the effectiveness of Swiss ball-based core stability training in young adults with chronic non-specific low back pain remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether Swiss ball-based core stability training can reduce pain and improve functional recovery in young men with chronic non-specific low back pain compared with conventional mat-based lumbar muscle exercises. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a Swiss ball core stability training group or a mat-based lumbar muscle training group and will complete a 6-week exercise intervention program. The study will evaluate changes in pain intensity, disability related to low back pain, lumbar muscle strength, and dynamic balance ability. The study hypothesizes that Swiss ball-based core stability training will produce greater improvements in pain relief, physical function, muscle strength, and balance than conventional mat-based lumbar muscle exercises.

Conditions

Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain

Keywords

chronic non-specific low back pain; core stability training

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Pain intensity

  Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Participants will rate their current level of low back pain on a 10-cm scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 represents "no pain" and 10 represents "the worst pain imaginable." Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks

• Low back disability

  Low back-related disability will be assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), a widely used measure of functional impairment associated with low back pain. The questionnaire consists of 10 items evaluating the impact of low back pain on activities of daily living. Each item is scored from 0 to 5, and the total score is converted into a percentage, with higher scores indicating greater disability.

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Lumbar muscle strength

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks

• Dynamic balance ability

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Swiss ball-based core stability training

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm will perform core stability training using a Swiss ball as the primary exercise equipment. Before the formal training session, participants will complete a 5-minute supervised warm-up consisting of dynamic stretching exercises focusing on the spine, shoulders, and hips, together with light running and jumping activities for the lower extremities. The core stability program consists of six exercise components performed in a progressive sequence from easier to more difficult tasks, with gradual reductions in the base of support to increase instability and challenge trunk control. As participants adapt to the intervention over time, the training load will be periodically increased to optimize therapeutic effects. Following each training session, participants will complete 5 minutes of static stretching exercises as a cool-down activity.

Behavioral: Swiss ball-based core stability training

Mat-based lumbar muscle exercises

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this arm will perform lumbar muscle exercises using a mat as the primary exercise surface. Apart from the exercise equipment used, the overall training protocol will be identical to that of the Swiss ball-based core stability training group. Before the formal training session, participants will complete the same 5-minute supervised warm-up program consisting of dynamic stretching exercises and light running and jumping activities. After each training session, participants will also perform 5 minutes of static stretching exercises as a cool-down activity.

Behavioral: Mat-based lumbar muscle exercises

Interventions

Swiss ball-based core stability training BEHAVIORAL

Participants in this arm will perform core stability training using a Swiss ball as the primary exercise equipment. Before the formal training session, participants will complete a 5-minute supervised warm-up consisting of dynamic stretching exercises focusing on the spine, shoulders, and hips, together with light running and jumping activities for the lower extremities. The core stability program consists of six exercise components performed in a progressive sequence from easier to more difficult tasks, with gradual reductions in the base of support to increase instability and challenge trunk control. As participants adapt to the intervention over time, the training load will be periodically increased to optimize therapeutic effects. Following each training session, participants will complete 5 minutes of static stretching exercises as a cool-down activity.

Swiss ball-based core stability training

Mat-based lumbar muscle exercises BEHAVIORAL

Participants in this arm will perform lumbar muscle exercises using a mat as the primary exercise surface. Apart from the exercise equipment used, the overall training protocol will be identical to that of the Swiss ball-based core stability training group. Before the formal training session, participants will complete the same 5-minute supervised warm-up program consisting of dynamic stretching exercises and light running and jumping activities. After each training session, participants will also perform 5 minutes of static stretching exercises as a cool-down activity.

Mat-based lumbar muscle exercises

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Male participants aged 18 to 25 years.
• Diagnosis of chronic non-specific low back pain characterized by pain or discomfort located between the lower rib margin and the gluteal folds, with or without lower limb pain.
• No signs of nerve root compression and a negative straight leg raise test.
• No identifiable specific pathological or anatomical cause of low back pain.
• Baseline pain intensity score greater than 2 and less than 9 on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
• Duration of low back pain symptoms longer than 12 weeks.
• No treatment for low back pain received within the previous month.
• Willingness to participate in the study and provide written informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Failure to meet the diagnostic criteria for chronic non-specific low back pain.
• History of spinal trauma or spinal surgery.
• Presence of severe cardiovascular diseases, such as uncontrolled hypertension.
• Presence of severe metabolic diseases, such as gout.
• Presence of severe infectious diseases, such as pneumonia.
• Diagnosed structural spinal disorders, including lumbar disc herniation, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, or other identifiable pathological anatomical abnormalities.
• Any medical condition that would prevent safe participation in the exercise intervention as determined by the investigators.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Guangxi Normal University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Guangxi Normal University

Guilin, Guangxi, 541004, China

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: CARE PROVIDER, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 30, 2026
• First Posted: July 7, 2026
• Study Start: January 1, 2021
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2021
• Study Completion: March 1, 2021
• Last Updated: July 7, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)