Meta-analysis finds core muscle training reduces pain in chronic nonspecific low back pain patients

This meta-analysis synthesizes data from 1,757 patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. The review compares core muscle training modalities against non-core-training controls. Primary outcomes included pain and function. Secondary outcomes were not reported.

Core stability training significantly reduced pain with an SMD of -0.95. The 95% CI ranged from -1.35 to -0.55. Functional improvement showed an SMD of -1.09. Sling exercise therapy and Pilates demonstrated the strongest pain relief effects with SMDs of -1.43 and -1.48 respectively. Breathing training resulted in an SMD of -0.75. Conventional core stability training was less effective with an SMD of -0.36. The direction of effect favored the intervention group.

Safety data were not reported in the source material. Serious adverse events were not reported. Follow-up duration was not reported. The analysis noted high heterogeneity with I2 values between 93% to 95%. Practice relevance was not reported. Funding or conflicts were not reported. The authors acknowledge these limitations impact the certainty of the pooled estimates.

Combined interventions outperformed single training for functional improvement with an SMD of -1.07. Sling exercise therapy outperformed single training with an SMD of -2.60. Clinicians should interpret these findings cautiously due to the noted limitations. Further research is needed to clarify long-term outcomes.