The effects of McKenzie and lumbar stabilization exercises on the improvement of function and pain in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial

In spite of many researches about low back pain treatment, there is no agreement regarding the most appropriate intervention. This study aimed to compare the effects of McKenzie exercises with lumbar stabilization training on the chronic low back pain and functional improvement. Thirty-two patients with chronic low back pain were selected through simple non-probability sampling for this double-blind randomized clinical trial. Subjects were randomly assigned to either a stabilization exercise group (n=16) or a McKenzie exercise group (n=16). Before and after intervention, we assessed pain (ordinal) through McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), disability (ordinal) with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), range of lumbar flexion (centimeter) using Schober test and lumbar lordosis (degree) with flexible ruler. A 10 session daily exercise program, one hour per session was performed for both groups. Independent t-test or Mann-Whitney U and paired t-test or Wilcoxon were used for comparison between the pretreatment and post treatment test results between groups and within groups, respectively. The mean pain disability and lumbar lordosis decreased in both group (P<0.001). The mean range of lumbar flexion increased only in the McKenzie group (P<0.001). After treatment, there was no significant difference between two groups regarding related variables (P>0.05). Both lumbar stabilization and McKenzie exercises cause decreasing in pain, disability and lumbar lordosis in patients with chronic low back pain. McKenzie exercises also cause increasing in range of lumbar flexion. However, one treatment method was not more effective than the other.