Effects of core stability with dynamic stretching in addition to routine physical therapy in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of core stability with dynamic stretching along with routine physical therapy in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). METHODS: This randomized controlled trial at Government Mian Munshi Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, enrolled 48 participants with CLBP. After obtaining consent, participants were randomly assigned through lottery method to Group-A (routine physical therapy) or Group-B (routine physical therapy plus core stability exercises and dynamic stretching). Pain, range of motion (ROM), and physical disability were evaluated at pretreatment, and at 2nd, 4th, and 6th weeks post-treatment using Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), a goniometer, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), respectively. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. Group-A had a mean age of 37.42±3.96 years and a mean BMI of 23.05±3.83 kg/m². Group-B had a mean age of 41.67±4.86 years and a mean BMI of 23.58±3.28 kg/m². In Group-A, the NPRS scores improved from 5.00 (4.00-7.00) to 4.00 (2.00-5.00) (p <0.001), and ODI scores improved from 40.0 (24.0-48.0) to 34.0 (14.0-35.0) (p <0.001). Flexion improved from 49.88 ± 6.955 to 53.79 ± 6.750 (p <0.001). In Group-B, the NPRS scores improved from 6.00 (4.00-7.00) to 2.80 (1.60-4.00) (p <0.001), and ODI scores improved from 46.0 (35.0-50.0) to 21.0 (30.1-28.0) (p <0.001). Flexion improved from 43.46±7.718 to 57.92±1.840 (p <0.001). CONCLUSION: Integrating core stability exercises and dynamic stretching alongside routine physical therapy significantly improved pain intensity, physical disability, and ROM in patients with CLBP. These findings emphasize the potential benefits of these modalities as valuable adjuncts in managing CLBP.