Low back pain (LBP) is one of the main causes that affect mechanical function in human bodies worldwide; 90% of the cases have non-specific LBP. There are various options for managing non-specific LBP. Clinical practice typically uses Maitland mobilization and core stability exercises to manage chronic nonspecific low back pain, but there is currently a lack of research examining their comparative effectiveness. The objective of this study was to assess and compare the efficiency of Maitland mobilization and core stability exercise as treatment modalities for adults suffering from chronic non-specific low back pain. A cohort of 36 patients, aged 18 to 45 years, diagnosed with non-specific low back pain (NSLBP), were recruited and provided with their informed permission. Participants were assigned to two groups using a basic random sampling method. Group A, consisting of 18 participants, underwent central posterior-anterior spinal mobilization, while Group B, also consisting of 18 participants, performed core stability exercises. The Visual Analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate pain, while functional disability was assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The study aimed to achieve its objective by documenting and comparing pre-and post-treatment ratings. Based on the results of the study, both Maitland mobilization technique and core stability exercises showed significant improvements in reducing pain intensity (VAS) and improving functional disability (ODI) in patients with non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) with p values of 0.001. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two treatment methods in terms of pain reduction (p = 0.312) and improvement in ODI (p = 0.055). Additionally, there was no significant relationship between body mass index and functional disability or pain intensity for both treatment methods with p values ranging from 0.034 to 0.987. Gender did not play a statistically significant role in the effectiveness of either Maitland mobilization or core stability exercises in treating chronic NSLBP. Both core stability exercises and the Maitland approach have been shown to effectively reduce pain and improve functional impairment in people suffering from chronic nonspecific low back pain.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• DOI
• PDF locator
• publisher