The effect of 8 weeks of selected central stabilization exercises with vitamin D consumption on the quality of life and mental health of women with non-specific chronic back pain

According to evidence, sports activities and vitamin D, in addition to their role in developing physical health, have a considerable impact on cognitive, behavioral and mood disorders. In the present study, the effectiveness of core stabilization exercises and vitamin D consumption on quality of life (QL) and mental health (MH) of women with chronic low back pain was investigated.

This clinical trial study was performed on women with chronic low back pain. First, 48 patients were selected by available sampling method, then randomly divided into 4 groups: control, exercise, vitamin D and combined (exercise+vitamin D). Core stabilization exercises were performed by training and combined groups for 8 weeks, and vitamin D and combined groups took vitamin D (50,000 IU) weekly. SF-36 QL and general health (GHQ) questionnaires were used to collect data. Data analysis was performed using paired t-test and  one-way analysis of variance at a significance level of P< 0.05.

Vitamin D levels were lower than normal in all subjects. The QL and MH of women with low back pain improved after exercise, vitamin D intake, and combined intervention. The combined intervention was associated with a greater increase in QL compared to the other two therapeutic interventions and the development of MH compared to vitamin D intake.

It seems that therapies using core stabilization exercises, vitamin D intake or combination intervention can help people with low back pain and low levels of vitamin D in improving QL and MH.