OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of core-stabilization exercise (SE) and to compare it with home-based conventional exercise (HE) in patients with chronic low-back pain (LBP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was performed with 48 female chronic LBP patients who attended to our outpatient unit. The patients were randomized into SE (n = 24) and home-based HE (n = 24) groups. The patients in the SE group participated in sessions of supervised group exercise for 6 weeks, 3 times a week and 60 minutes a day. The patients in the HE group were told to do daily conventional exercises for 6 weeks, and they were checked by telephone calls. The patients were assessed before and after the program at the third month with the visual analogue scale (VAS), Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RM), SF-36, Kraus-Weber test (KW), Sorensen test (ST), and timed sit to stand test (TSS). RESULTS: Following the exercise program, there was improvement in all of the variables in the SE group. In the HE group, there was also improvement in all of the variables, except ST and SF-36 pain and social function. When the groups were compared with each other, the SE group was superior to the HE group in the improvement of ST and SF-36 physical function. CONCLUSION: Though both of the exercise programs were both found to be effective concerning the areas of pain, endurance, function, and daily living in patients with chronic LBP, the SE group was superior to the HE group in the endurance of dorsal extensors and in the improvement of physical role limitation.

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