The Effect of Core Stabilization Exercises on Balance in Older Adults With Low Back Pain

NCT07839052 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 64954
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This research aims to investigate the effect of a core stabilization exercise programme, combined with usual physiotherapy care, on balance in older adults, aged over 65 years with chronic non-specific low back pain. Participants will be randomly allocated to either an intervention group, receiving the core stabilization exercise programme additional to usual physiotherapy care, or a control group receiving usual physiotherapy care, combined with a general mobility and strengthening exercise programme. Participants will be assessed at baseline, after 12 weeks (3 months), and at a 6-month follow-up.

Conditions

Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain

Keywords

core stability; core stability exercises; aging adults; older adults; balance; balance exercises; risk of falls; usual physiotherapy care; low back pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Berg Balance Scale

  The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) is a 14-item standardized clinical assessment tool used to evaluate functional balance in older adults. It assesses static and dynamic balance during functional activities, including transfers, standing balance, turning, and single-leg stance. Each item is scored from 0 to 4, with a higher total score indicating better balance performance.

  Baseline (T0) to 12 weeks (T1), additional assessment at 6 months (T2)

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Timed Up and Go

  Baseline (T0) to 12 weeks (T1), additional assessment at 6 months (T2)

• Single Leg Stance test

  Baseline (T0) to 12 weeks (T1), additional assessment at 6 months (T2)

• Sit to Stand test

  Baseline (T0), 12 weeks (T1), additional assessment at 6 months (T2)

• Oswestry Disability Index

  Baseline (T0) to 12 weeks (T1), additional assessment at 6 months (T2)

• SF-36 Health Survey

  Baseline (T0) to 12 weeks (T1), additional assessment at 6 months (T2)

Study Arms (2)

Core stabilisation exercises + usual physiotherapy care group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive a progressive core stabilization exercise programme combined with usual physiotherapy care. The intervention will be delivered twice per week for 12 weeks. Each intervention session will last approximately one hour.

Other: Core stabilisation exercises + usual physiotherapy care

Usual Physiotherapy care + General exercise programme group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will receive a general exercise programme combined with usual physiotherapy care. The intervention will be delivered twice per week for 12 weeks. Each intervention session will last approximately one hour.

Other: Usual physiotherapy care + general exercise programme

Interventions

Core stabilisation exercises + usual physiotherapy care OTHER

The core stabilization exercise programme will include activation, motor control and strengthening exercises targeting the deep and superficial trunk muscles. The programme will consist of exercises such as abdominal drawing-in maneuver, camel-cat exercise, bird dog, dead bug, bridges, modified front and side planks. The intervention will be individually progressed according to functional capacity and exercise tolerance. The duration of the exercise programme per session will be approximately 20-25 minutes, additional to approximately 5 minutes of warm-up and 5 minutes of cool-down. The usual physiotherapy care will include joint and soft-tissue mobilisation, myofascial release techniques, superficial heat, low-frequency TENS, postural education, ergonomic advice and advice relevant to the maintenance of physical activity. This component of the intervention will be the same for both groups.

Core stabilisation exercises + usual physiotherapy care group

Usual physiotherapy care + general exercise programme OTHER

Participants will receive usual physiotherapy care including interventions commonly used for the management of chronic low back pain. These will include joint and soft-tissue mobilisation, myofascial release techniques, superficial heat, low-frequency TENS, postural education, ergonomic advice and advice regarding physical activity. This component of the intervention will be the same for both groups. To ensure comparable overall treatment duration between groups, participants will perform approximately 20 minutes of general mobility and strengthening exercises for the spine and upper and lower limb, as well as stretching exercises, additional to moderate intensity walking exercises. This exercise programme will not include specific core stabilisation exercises or balance exercises.

Usual Physiotherapy care + General exercise programme group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• years old or older.
• They have to be diagnosed with chronic non-specific low back pain lasting for at least 3 months.
• Low back pain intensity greater than 3/10 on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
• Functional independence.
• They have to be able to walk independently without assistive devices.
• Adequate cognitive function and ability to understand and follow instructions.
• Ability and willingness to provide written consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Severe spinal disorders, including spinal stenosis with neurological deficits, recent vertebral fracture or spondylolisthesis.
• Spinal surgery within the last 12 months.
• Acute low back pain, lasting less than 6 weeks.
• Neurological disorders affecting balance or postural control, including Parkinson's disease or stroke.
• Vestibular disorders that may significantly affect balance.
• Severe visual impairment or diagnosed cognitive impairment.
• Malignancy.
• Musculoskeletal or cardiopulmonary conditions at a level that affects and contraindicates exercise.
• If they use regurarly hig-dose analgesic medication, specifically for the management of the symptoms of low back pain.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of West Attica: lead

Study Sites (1)

KINAISTHISI Physiotherapy Clinic Address: Pandora 2, Galatsi, 11146, Greece

Athens, Galatsi, 11146, Greece

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Central Study Contacts

EVA KOUTSAMPELA, PhD Canditate

CONTACT

+306984872699; ekoutsampela@uniwa.gr

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: PhD Canditate

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 18, 2026
• First Posted: September 24, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): October 25, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 25, 2029
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 25, 2029
• Last Updated: September 29, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Locations

GR (1)