The effect of lumbar strengthening exercise on pain and the cross-sectional area change of lumbar muscles

Abstract

[Purpose] This study attempts to investigated the effect of a lumbar strengthening ball exercise on the pain of patients who have chronic lower back pain and the cross-sectional area changes in their lumbar muscles. [Subjects] The research subjects were of 33 patients with chronic lower back pain who were divided into two groups: a ball exercise therapy group (BETG, n = 17) and a conservative physical therapy group (CPTG, n = 16). [Methods] A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the recovery of patients with chronic lower back pain, and computed tomography (CT) images were analyzed to examine the cross-sectional changes of their lumbar muscles. [Results] An Compared to before and after treatment, pain of the BETG and CPTG was decreased. The cross-sectional size of the lumbar muscles significantly increased in the BETG after the treatment while the CPTG did not show a significant difference between before and after the treatment. [Conclusion] We believe that ball exercise therapy is an effective intervention that can reduce the pain of patients with chronic lower back pain and strengthen their lumbar muscles.