Core Endurance Versus Segmental Stabilization Exercise in Recreational Athletes With Low Back Pain

NCT07760103 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: Uskudar27Uskudar University
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal complaint among athletes, and most cases are classified as non-specific low back pain, in which no clear anatomical or pathological source of pain can be identified. Recreational athletes, who exercise regularly for health and fitness rather than for competition, often have less structured training planning and technical supervision than professional athletes, which may increase their susceptibility to musculoskeletal complaints. Core stability has become an important consideration in the prevention and management of low back pain. The core region includes the abdominal muscles, paraspinal muscles, diaphragm, and pelvic floor muscles, and plays an important role in maintaining spinal stability. Reduced activation and endurance of these muscles may increase the load on the lumbar spine and contribute to the development of low back pain. This randomized trial compares two exercise approaches in recreational athletes with non-specific low back pain: a core endurance exercise program and a segmental stabilization exercise program targeting the transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus. Participants are randomly assigned to one of the two programs, both delivered three days per week for six weeks under physiotherapist supervision. Pain and functional status, dynamic balance, and core muscle endurance are assessed before the program and at the end of the six-week program.

Conditions

Low Back Pain; Athletic Injuries

Keywords

core endurance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in low back pain and functional status (Micheli Functional Scale)

  The Micheli Functional Scale is a five-item scale developed to assess low back pain related functional impairment and pain related changes in performance in athletes. It comprises one symptom question, three activity questions (extension, flexion, and jumping), and a visual analogue scale section. The symptom question is scored from 0 to 5; the activity questions are scored from 0 to 4 for extension, from 0 to 3 for flexion, and from 0 to 3 for jumping. The visual analogue scale section provides a 10-point assessment on a 10 cm line. The total score is calculated out of 25 and multiplied by 4 to produce a standardized score from 0 to 100. Lower scores indicate better functional status and higher scores indicate greater functional impairment.

  Baseline (week 0) and at the end of the six-week exercise program (week 6)

Study Arms (2)

Core endurance exercise

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants perform a core endurance exercise program consisting of the front plank, the side plank, and the superman plank, three days per week for six weeks under physiotherapist supervision. Each exercise consists of 20 repetitions with a 15-second isometric hold, repeated for two sets with a 3-minute rest between sets.

Other: Core endurance exercise program; Other: Segmental stabilization exercise program

Segmental stabilization exercise

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants perform a segmental stabilization exercise program targeting the transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus, three days per week for six weeks under physiotherapist supervision. The program comprises quadruped stabilization exercises, supine transversus abdominis activation with the knees flexed, prone lumbar multifidus activation, and standing postural control exercises involving co-activation of both muscles.

Other: Core endurance exercise program

Interventions

Core endurance exercise program OTHER

Supervised isometric core endurance training comprising the front plank, side plank, and superman plank. Each exercise: 20 repetitions of a 15-second isometric hold, two sets, 3-minute rest between sets. Three sessions per week for six weeks.

Core endurance exercise; Segmental stabilization exercise

Segmental stabilization exercise program OTHER

Supervised motor-control training targeting the transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus, comprising quadruped stabilization, supine transversus abdominis activation with knees flexed, prone lumbar multifidus activation, and standing postural control with co-activation of both muscles. Three sessions per week for six weeks.

Core endurance exercise

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Aged 18 years or older
• Recreational athlete who has recently begun regular physical activity
• Diagnosis of non-specific low back pain confirmed by an orthopaedic specialist
• Two or more episodes of low back pain within the past year
• Not participating in any other treatment program during the study period

You may not qualify if:

• Radicular (nerve root) signs
• Underlying systemic or visceral disease
• Diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis
• Spinal pathology such as spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis
• Previous lumbar spine surgery
• History of vestibular dysfunction
• Lower extremity injury within the past month
• History of traumatic concussion within the past three months

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Uskudar University: lead

Related Publications (5)

• Dal Farra F, Arippa F, Carta G, Segreto M, Porcu E, Monticone M. Sport and non-specific low back pain in athletes: a scoping review. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2022 Dec 23;14(1):216. doi: 10.1186/s13102-022-00609-9.

  PMID: 36564816 BACKGROUND

• Mortazavi J, Zebardast J, Mirzashahi B. Low Back Pain in Athletes. Asian J Sports Med. 2015 Jun;6(2):e24718. doi: 10.5812/asjsm.6(2)2015.24718. Epub 2015 Jun 20.

  PMID: 26448841 BACKGROUND

• Frizziero A, Pellizzon G, Vittadini F, Bigliardi D, Costantino C. Efficacy of Core Stability in Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2021 Apr 22;6(2):37. doi: 10.3390/jfmk6020037.

  PMID: 33922389 BACKGROUND

• Franca FR, Burke TN, Hanada ES, Marques AP. Segmental stabilization and muscular strengthening in chronic low back pain: a comparative study. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2010;65(10):1013-7. doi: 10.1590/s1807-59322010001000015.

  PMID: 21120303 BACKGROUND

• Blanco-Gimenez P, Vicente-Mampel J, Gargallo P, Maroto-Izquierdo S, Martin-Ruiz J, Jaenada-Carrilero E, Barrios C. Effect of exercise and manual therapy or kinesiotaping on sEMG and pain perception in chronic low back pain: a randomized trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2024 Jul 25;25(1):583. doi: 10.1186/s12891-024-07667-9.

  PMID: 39054514 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Low Back Pain; Athletic Injuries

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Back Pain; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Wounds and Injuries

Study Officials

• Armita Chitsaz

  Üsküdar University

  STUDY CHAIR

Central Study Contacts

ömer şevgin

CONTACT

+905069787535; omer.sevgin@uskudar.edu.tr

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: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 7, 2026
• First Posted: August 12, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): August 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 30, 2026
• Last Updated: August 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share