OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of rhythmic stabilization exercises and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and their combination in treating women with chronic low back pain. DESIGN: Sequentially allocated, single-blinded and controlled study, with a two-month follow-up. SETTING: The data were collected in a patient rehabilitation setting. SUBJECTS: A total of 92 women (34 to 46 years old) with chronic low back pain were studied. INTERVENTIONS: Sequential allocation was undertaken into four groups: 'rhythmic stabilization' (n = 23), 'rhythmic stabilization -- TENS' (n = 23), TENS (n = 23), and a placebo group (n = 23). Each programme lasted for four weeks. All outcome measures were assessed prior to, immediately after, four weeks and eight weeks post intervention. MAIN MEASURES: Data were obtained on functional disability, pain intensity, trunk extension range of motion, dynamic endurance of trunk flexion and static endurance of trunk extension. RESULTS: A total of 88 patients provided two-month follow-up data. The 'rhythmic stabilization' and the 'rhythmic stabilization -- TENS' groups displayed statistically significant (p < 0.05) improvements in functional disability and pain intensity (ranging from 21.2 to 42.8%), trunk extension range of motion (ranging from 6.5 to 25.5%), dynamic endurance of trunk flexion and static endurance of trunk extension (ranging from 13.5 to 74.3%) compared with the remaining groups. CONCLUSION: The rhythmic stabilization programmes resulted in more gains in women with chronic low back pain regarding the present outcome variables compared with the other groups; therefore, its application in female chronic low back pain patients aged 34 to 46 years is recommended.

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