Short effects of two common stabilization exercise on back and abdominal muscle recruitment and lumbar curvature in non-specific chronic low back pain patients: a crossover clinical trial study

The purpose of this study was to investigate shorts effects of two common stabilization exercises the Abdominal Hollowing (AH) and the Abdominal Bracing (AB) on abdominal and back muscle recruitment and behavior of lumbar curvature in static standing tasks.

In this crossover randomized clinical trial study (RCTs), 30 male (mean age 27/7) with NS-CLBP by convenience sampling were randomlly allocated to 3 equal size groups (2 interventions and one control group). Before and immediately after stabilization training (AH and AB), lumbar curvature and surface EMG activity from abdominal and back muscle was simultaneously recorded, in functional task that contain static standing with and without axial loading (12kg weight).

In static standing without axial loading, high EMG activity of local muscle was observed in the AH group and a significant reduction in erector spine (ES) and rectus abdominis (RA) activity in the AB groups. Meanwhile, in regards with axial loading, a reduction of TrA/IO in the AH groups and aslo ES with RA in the AB groups was seen (P<0.05).Lumbar curvature was surprisingly increased 2 degree after AH intervention and significantly decreased with axial loading (P<0.05).

Short effects of stabilization training with transferred to untrained tasks have ability to effect on curvature and sequentially on posture.