Table 3.
Effect of Motor Control Exercise on Low Back Pain
| Publications | Interventions | Pain Measures | Within-Group Change in Pain | Between-Group Differences (MD (95% CI) s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akbari et al, 200830 | Gp1: MCE Gp2: GE |
VAS (mm) | Gp1 mean ± SD: pre = 7.3 ± 1.0mm, post = 2.5 ± 1.2mm, (p = 0.0001) Gp2 mean ± SD: pre = 8 ± 1.2mm, post = 4 ± 1.5mm, (p = 0.0001) Secondary analysis (pre minus post) Gp1 = 4.8mm (4.19 to 5.41mm), (p < 0. 00001) Gp2 = 4mm (3.23 to 4.77mm), (p < 0.00001) Significant post-treatment reduction in LBP in Gp1 and Gp2. Significant post-treatment reduction in LBP in Gp1 and Gp2. Changes for both groups were smaller than MCID |
Between-group analysis data was not reported. Reported p value (p = 0.015) Secondary analysis Gp1 minus Gp2 = −1.5mm (−2.26 to 0.74mm) (p = 0.0001) Gp1 showed significantly larger decreases in LBP than Gp2 Between-group difference was smaller than MCID |
| Berglund et al, 201724 | Gp1: MCE Gp2: High load lift exercise |
VAS (mm) | Gp1 mean ± SD: pre = 48.7 ± 27.0mm, mean change ± SD at 2 months: −18.5 ± 26.7mm, (p value was not reported) Gp2 mean ± SD: pre = 41.3 ± 23.8mm, mean change ± SD at 2 months: −19.0 ± 25.5mm, (p value was not reported) Significant post-treatment reduction in LBP in Gp1 and Gp2. Changes for both groups were smaller than MCID |
Between-group analysis data was not reported. Reported p value (p = 0.95) Secondary analysis Gp1 minus Gp2 = 0.5mm (−12.71 to 13.71mm) (p = 0.94) No significant post-treatment differences between Gp1 and Gp2 |
| Hides et al, 199645 | Gp1: MCE plus drugs (analgesics + nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory) Gp2: Drugs |
VAS (mm) | Significant decreases in pain intensity in both groups. (Values were not reported) | No significant difference between the two groups from 1 to 4 weeks (p = 0.96) LBP assessment at 10th wk was not reported. |
| Hosseinifar et al, 201329 | Gp1: MCE Gp2: McKenzie exercise |
VAS (mm) | Gp1 mean ± SD: pre = 4.3 ± 1.6mm, post = 1.5 ± 1.4mm, (p < 0.05) Gp2 mean ± SD: pre = 4.4 ± 2.0mm, post = 2.7 ± 1.4mm, (p < 0.05) Secondary analysis (pre minus post) Gp1 = 2.8mm (1.72 to 3.88mm), (p < 0. 00001) Gp2 = 1.7mm (0.46 to 2.94mm), (p < 0.00001) Significant post-treatment reduction in LBP in Gp1 and Gp2 Changes for both groups were smaller than MCID |
Between-group analysis data was not reported. Reported p value (p < 0.05) Secondary analysis Gp1 minus Gp2 = −1.20mm (−2.20 to −0.20mm) (p = 0.02) Gp1 showed significantly larger decreases in LBP than Gp2. Between-group difference was smaller than MDC95 |
| Lee et al, 201148 | Gp1: MCE on a gymnastic ball Gp2: GPT |
VAS (mm) | Gp1 mean ± SD: pre = 59mm ± 19mm, post at 12th wk = 13 ± 11mm, (p < 0.05) Gp2 mean ± SD: pre = 56mm ± 20mm, post at 12th wk = 21 ± 15mm, (p < 0.05) Secondary analysis (pre minus post) Gp1 = 46mm (45.56 to 56.44mm), (p < 0.00001) Gp2 = 35mm (22.75 to 47.25mm), (p < 0.00001) Significant post-treatment reduction in LBP in Gp1 and Gp2 Within-group changes in both groups exceeded MCID |
Between-group analysis was not reported Secondary analysis Gp1 minus Gp2 = −8mm (−17.02 to 1.02mm) (p = 0.08) No significant difference between Gp1 and Gp2 at the 12th wk Between-group difference was smaller than MCID |
| Nabavi et al, 20182 | Gp1: MCE plus GPT Gp2: GE plus GPT |
VAS (mm) |
Gp1 MD (95% CI): 33mm (22 to 43mm), post-treatment decreases in LBP (p = 0.01) Gp2 MD (95% CI): 35mm (22 to 41mm), post-treatment decreases in LBP (p = 0.01) Significant post-treatment reduction in LBP in Gp1 and Gp2 Within-group changes in both groups exceeded MCID |
Between-group differences: (p = 0.82) Gp2 minus Gp1 = 2.0mm (0.2 to 3.4mm) (p = 0.82) No significant difference between Gp1 and Gp2 Between-group difference was smaller than MCID |
| Tagliaferri et al, 202049 | Gp1: MCE + manual therapy Gp2: GSA |
VAS (mm) | Gp1: Significant decrease in LBP at 6 (p < 0.05), 8 (p < 0.01), 10 (p < 0.001), 12 (p < 0.001), 14 (p < 0.001), 16 (p < 0.001), 18 (p < 0.01), 20 (p < 0.001), 20 (p < 0.001), 22 (p < 0.001), and 24 (p < 0.001) weeks. Gp2: Significant decrease in LBP at (p < 0.05), 8 (p < 0.05), 10 (p < 0.05), 12 (p < 0.01), 18 (p < 0.01), 20 (p < 0.05), 22 (p < 0.05), 24 (p < 0.01). Significant post-treatment reduction in LBP at 6 months in both Gp1 (p < 0.001) and Gp2 (p = 0.008) |
Gp1 was better than Gp2 in decreasing LBP at 14 and 16 weeks (p = 0.003) No significant difference between Gp1 and Gp2 at 6 months |
Note: The bold values indicate the within-group changes exceeded minimal clinical important difference.
Abbreviations: 95% CI, 95% confidence interval; FU, follow up; GE, general exercises; Gp, group; GPT, general physiotherapy; GSA, general strengthening and aerobic exercises; HLL, High load lifting; LBP, low back pain; MCE, motor control exercise; MCID, minimal clinical important difference; mins, minutes; mm, millimeter; SD, standard deviation; VAS, visual analogue scale; wk, week.