BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) is common in the elderly and an appropriate intervention for LBP management should be investigated. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential of mud-heat intervention combined with core exercise as an alternative intervention for relieving pain and improving motor function in individuals with nonspecific chronic LBP. METHODS: Thirty-one individuals with chronic nonspecific LBP were randomly allocated to either the intervention group (n = 16) or the control group (n = 15). The intervention group used a mud pack for 30 min and performed a core-exercise program for 50 min twice a day for 4 days (8 sessions). The control group performed the core-exercise program only, at the same time point as the intervention group. Pain intensity was assessed using a 100 mm visual analog scale and a pain pressure threshold (PPT) as the primary outcomes. The secondary outcome measures included functional disability by LBP (Oswestry Disability Index), muscle properties, and static/dynamic balance. RESULTS: There was a significant group difference in pain intensity at rest (p = 0.048) and in the PPT at the two sites assessed (2 cm lateral to L3 spinous process, p = 0.045; 2 cm lateral to L5 spinous process, p = 0.015). No group differences were found in terms of muscle properties. Compared to core exercise only, moor-heat therapy and core exercise showed a significant improvement in static balance (p = 0.026) and dynamic balance (p = 0.019). CONCLUSION: Mud therapy combined with core exercise is effective in relieving pain and improving motor function in patients with chronic nonspecific LBP. Further research is needed to underpin these preliminary results.

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