OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of the CORE programme on pain at rest, movement-induced pain, secondary pain, active range of motion, and proprioception deficits in female office workers with chronic low back pain. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Rehabilitation clinics. SUBJECTS: A total of 53 participants with chronic low back pain were randomized into the CORE group and the control group. INTERVENTION: CORE group participants underwent the 30-minute CORE programme, five times per week, for eight weeks, with additional use of hot-packs and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, while the control group used only hot-packs and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. MAIN MEASURES: Participants were evaluated pretest, posttest, and two months after the intervention period to measure resting and movement-induced pain, pressure pain as secondary pain, active range of pain-free motion, and trunk proprioception. RESULTS: Pain intensity at rest (35.6 +/- 5.9 mm) and during movement (39.4 +/- 9.1 mm) was significantly decreased in the CORE group following intervention compared with the control group. There were significant improvements in pressure pain thresholds (quadratus lumborum 2.2 +/- 0.7 kg/cm2; sacroiliac joint 2.0 +/- 0.7 kg/cm2), active range of motion (flexion 30.8 +/- 14.3 degrees; extension 6.6 +/- 2.5 degrees), and proprioception (20 degrees flexion 4.3 +/- 2.4 degrees; 10 degrees extension 3.1 +/- 2.0 degrees) in the CORE group following intervention (all p < 0.05). These improvements were maintained at the two-month follow-up. The control group did not show significant improvements in any measured parameter. CONCLUSION: The CORE programme is an effective intervention for reducing pain at rest and movement-induced pain, and for improving the active range of motion and trunk proprioception in female office workers with chronic low back pain.

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