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Postural Low Back PainNCT06846203

Comparison of Core Stabilization and Neuromuscular Facilitation Exercises for Lowback Pain Prevention

A study testing Core stabilization Exercise Group and Neuromuscular Fascilitation Exercise Group in people with Postural Low Back Pain, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide, particularly affecting individuals in occupations that demand prolonged sitting or standing, such as healthcare professionals. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 20 to 45 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Postural Low Back Pain
What is being tested?
Core stabilization Exercise Group and Neuromuscular Fascilitation Exercise Group
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
63 participants
Where
1 sitePakistan
Study dates
1 Mar 2025to 2 Jan 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 20 to 45 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Professionals including nurses, dentist, surgeons, physiotherapists etc.
  • 20-45 years.
  • Both genders.
  • Individuals with no back pain history from previous 3 months.
  • Individuals having Biering sorensen test score less than 176 seconds.

Who cannot join

  • Individuals who had experienced low back pain in previous 3 months.
  • Diagnosed musculoskeletal and neuromuscular problems.
  • Diagnosed cardiovascular or pulmonary problems.
  • Any Fractures and spine surgery.
  • Individuals who are already a part of any interventional research program.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Pakistan1 site
  • Pakistan Airforce hospital

    Karachi, Sindh, 75350

Other trials in Pakistan

About this study

Official title: Comparison of Core Stabilization and Neuromuscular Facilitation Exercises for Lowback Pain Prevention Among Health Care Professionals

Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide, particularly affecting individuals in occupations that demand prolonged sitting or standing, such as healthcare professionals. The nature of their work often involves sustained postures, physical exertion, and repetitive movements, which compromise core muscle function and neuromuscular control, increasing the risk of spinal dysfunction and pain. Core stabilization exercises have been widely recognized for their role in improving trunk strength, enhancing postural alignment, and reducing spinal loading, thereby preventing LBP. Similarly, neuromuscular facilitation exercises aim to optimize muscle activation patterns, improve coordination, and restore functional movement, making them a promising strategy for LBP prevention. Despite the individual benefits of these approaches, there is a paucity of comparative research investigating their relative effectiveness in the prevention of LBP, particularly in populations with demanding physical and postural requirements, such as healthcare professionals.

This study seeks to fill this gap by comparing the effects of core stabilization exercises and neuromuscular facilitation exercises on LBP prevention among healthcare professionals.The findings will provide evidence-based guidance for designing targeted interventions, ultimately promoting musculoskeletal health and enhancing the occupational well-being of this vulnerable group.

Read the detailed description

Healthcare professionals perform daily activities that can lead to musculoskeletal disorders among them the lower back, neck, shoulder and hand/wrist are the most exposed areas.Healthcare professionals frequently engage in activities that require lifting, bending, and prolonged standing or sitting, which can place significant stress on their lower back .Low back pain is prevalent among healthcare workers, with studies indicating that over 57% of professionals experience it at some point in their careers Contributing factors include prolonged standing, frequent bending and twisting, and the physical demands of nursing and medical roles .The prevalence is notably higher among healthcare professionals, highlighting the need for targeted prevention strategies.

Researches have been done in order to devise strategies for the reduction of low back pain. Core stabilization and Neuromuscular Facilitation exercises are among them. Research shows that core stability training can alleviate symptoms of nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) in nurses by improving muscle endurance and balance between the multifidus muscles on both sides of the spine Engaging in regular physical activity, including stretching exercises, has been shown to reduce LBP symptoms and improve overall physical health. For instance, a study found that a structured stretching program significantly reduced pain levels among healthcare workers .Core strengthening exercises, which include the muscles of the abdomen, pelvis, and lower back, are crucial for maintaining spinal stability and preventing LBP. likewise propioceptive neuromuscular fascilitation exercises have been shown to improve trunk muscle endurance and strength, which are critical for supporting the lumbar spine. Studies found that participants engaging in Propioceptive neuromuscular fascilitation demonstrated substantial gains in trunk stability and mobility, essential factors in preventing future episodes of back pain .

Evidence suggests that the benefits of Neuromuscular Fascilitation may extend beyond immediate pain relief, contributing to long-term improvements in muscle activity and overall spinal health. A study highlighted that PNF can lead to sustained reductions in pain and increases in functional capacity over time. When compared with traditional core strengthening exercises or conventional physical therapy, Neuromuscular Fascilitation has shown superior outcomes in terms of both pain reduction and functional improvement.This positions Neuromuscular Fascilitation as a potentially more effective intervention for healthcare professionals who are at risk for developing LBP.An RCT was conducted by waseem et al in 2017 inorder to compare core stabilization exercises with conventional physical therapy.They concluded that clinical and therapeutic effects of core stabilization exercise program over the period of six weeks are more effective in terms of reduction in pain, compared to routine physical therapy exercise for similar duration. Pattanasin et al compared core stabilization exercises with Neuromuscular Fascilitation and reported that four-week Core stabilization and neuromuscular fascilitation training provided short-term and long-term effects on pain-related outcomes, along with increased deep trunk muscle activity in Chronic low back patients.Su et al in a study conducted in 2021 reported that Despite both core stabilization and strengthening exercises reducing pain, core stabilization exercise is superior to strengthening exercise. It is effective in improving proprioception, balance, and percentage change of muscle thickness of TrA and LM, and reducing functional disability and ear of movement in patients with subacute Non specific low back pain.

Being tested
Core stabilization Exercise Group, Neuromuscular Fascilitation Exercise Group
Keywords
Dynamic sit up test, Low Back Pain, Functional Movement Screen, PNF stretching exercises
Medical subject headings
Low Back Pain

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Core stabilization Exercise GroupOther

    This group will be subjected to following core stabilization exercises:

    1: Sit-up-1, 2: Sit-up-2, 3: Back extention-1, 4: Back extention-2 , 5: Front plank, 6: Back bridge , 7: Quadruped , 8:Side bridge A combination of activities will be administered and alterations will be made every session.

    Session will be held 3 times per week for 8 consecutive weeks.

  • Neuromuscular Fascilitation Exercise GroupOther

    This group will be subjected to neuromuscular facilitation exercises :

    Week 1: McGill curl up, Week 2: Bird dog stretch, Week 3: Side bridge or mermaid side bridge with bent knees, Week 4: Single leg stretching, Week 5: Shoulder bridge Week 6: "Tai chi Warrior" stance, Week 7 \& 8: Cat - cow - downward facing dog, Hip circumduction, hamstring stretching, starting position Session will be held 3 times per week for 8 consecutive weeks

Study groups in NCT06846203
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
core stabilization exercisesExperimentalThis group will be subjected to following core stabilization exercises which include Sit-up-1, Sit-up-2, Back extention-1,Back extention-2 , Front plank,Back bridge ,Quadruped and Side bridge.
Receives: Other: Core stabilization Exercise Group
Neuromuscular Fascilitation exercisesExperimentalThis group will be subjected to neuromuscular facilitation exercises which includes McGill curl up,Bird dog stretch, Side bridge or mermaid side bridge with bent knees, Single leg stretching ,Shoulder bridge,"Tai chi Warrior" stance ,Cat - cow - downward facing dog, Hip circumduction, hamstring stretching and starting position.
Receives: Other: Neuromuscular Fascilitation Exercise Group
control groupNo interventionno intervention was given to this group

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Dynamic Sit Up Test.

    The Dynamic Situp Test evaluates the endurance of the abdominal muscles and consists of consecutive performance of 3 increasingly difficult kinds of sit-up, 5 repetitions each. The examinee lies face-up on the floor with the knees bent at 90 degrees and the feet flat on the floor, held down by an examiner. The examinee then attempts to perform 15 situps in the following sequence. There should be no rest period or pause between the different types of sit-up:

    5 situps each with the hands sliding along the thighs,while keeping the forearms crossed over the chest and with the fingertips maintaining contact with the back of the earlobes.

    The score is the total number of situps performed (max = 15) A Cronbach's alpha reliability analysis of the entire sample revealed a high degree of interrater reliability for the sit-up test. (α = .925)

    Measured: Baseline to 8th week

  2. Biering sorenson Test.

    The Biering-Sørensen test is commonly used to assess endurance of the paraspinal musculature using two metrics: test duration (the time that an individual maintains the Sørensen test position), and rate of muscle fatigue it is reported to predict low back pain within the next year in males. The test consists in measuring the amount of time a person can hold the unsupported upper body in a horizontal prone position with the lower body fixed to the examining table For the Sørensen tests, participants lay on a Roman chair with their lower limbs stabilized and their head, arms, and trunk unsupported. Participants were instructed to maintain a horizontal body position for as long as possible. The end of the test occurred when the participant could no longer maintain the horizontal test position or when the participant felt unable to continue the test. A low Biering-Sorensen score has been found to predict who will have nonspecific low back pain.

    Measured: Baseline to 8th week

  3. Functional movement Screen.

    The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a screening system that attempts allow the professional to assess the fundamental movement patterns of an individual. Its seven components are: Deep Squat, Hurdle Step, and In-Line Lunge, Shoulder Mobility, the Active Straight Leg Raise, the Trunk Stability Push-up, and Rotary Stability The maximum possible score on the FMS is 21, which is achieved by scoring a perfect 3 on all seven tests. Conversely, a score below 14 suggests a higher risk for injury due to poor body mechanics.The FMS demonstrates good to excellent interrater reliability, with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) reported between 0.76 and 0.98 across various studies.The FMS has shown predictive validity for injury risk, particularly with a composite score of ≤14, which indicates a significantly higher likelihood of sustaining injuries .

    Measured: Baseline to 8th week

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted26 Feb 2025
  2. Study start1 Mar 2025
  3. Primary completion30 Dec 2025
  4. Study completion2 Jan 2026

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
63 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06846203
Sponsor's protocol ID
Riphah Mehreen Raza
Status last verified
Feb 2026
First submitted
20 Feb 2025
Last updated
19 Feb 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Core stabilization Exercise Group and Neuromuscular Fascilitation Exercise Group in people with Postural Low Back Pain, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Dynamic Sit Up Test. (time frame: Baseline to 8th week). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 Feb 2026.

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