Whether core stability training has a positive therapeutic effect on LBP patients: a Meta-analysis

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveThe main goal of this study is to determine whether engaging in core stability exercises benefits LBP sufferers.BackgroundAs a common exercise therapy, core stability training has gradually become the main treatment for LBP patients to relieve pain. Although many similar researches have showed a significant impact of core stability training on LBP, many scholars still have the opposite experimental conclusion, that is, core stability training has no significant therapeutic effect on LBP patients.MethodsOnly randomized controlled could be included in this study, and we used the Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI databases, China Science and Technology Journal Database and PubMed for article retrieval. Among them, non-LBP patients, non-core training, and articles with imperfect outcome indicators were not included.ResultsThis analysis incorporated findings from 21 relevant studies in total. The results showed that, although that the overall effect was not significant, core stability training was helpful for LBP patients. The results of two secondary outcomes (generic health and specific function) showed that core stability training had no practical significance for the improvement of generic health and specific function of LBP patients. The specific results are as follows: pain (SMD = 2.74, 95%CI: 1.40-4.08, P < 0.0001), disability (SMD = 2.52, 95%CI: 1.69-3.36, P <0.00001), generic health (SMD = 1.08, 95%CI: 0.07-2.08, P = 0.04), specific function (SMD = 1.99, 95%CI: −0.04-4.02, P = 0.05).ConclusionsWe recommend that core stability training be used for short-term therapy, but not for long-term therapy.