Cai C, et al. – A comparative scrutiny was carried out of the therapeutic effect of lower limb (LL) exercises versus conventional lumbar extensor (LE) and lumbar stabilization (LS) exercises in recreational runners with chronic low back pain (cLBP). A new option for cLPB management discovered was LL exercise therapy. This new therapy exhibited superior effects in improving running capability, knee extension strength and running gait.

Methods

• The eligible candidates included 84 recreational runners with cLBP.
• They were allocated to three exercise groups (LL, LE, LS) for an 8-week intervention.
• Outcome measures comprised of self-rated pain and running capability, lower limb strength, back muscles function, and running gait.
• Analyses were conducted at pre-, mid- and end-intervention.
• The selected outcomes also followed up at three and six months.
• Generalized estimating equation inspected the group-by-time interaction.

Results

• It was seen that LL group improved 0.949 points per time point in Patient Specific Functional Scale (p < .001), which was higher than the LE (B = -0.198, p = .001) and LS groups (B = -0.263, p < .001).
• All three groups improved on average 0.746 points per time point in Numeric Pain Rating Scale for running induced pain (p < .001).
• Increased knee extension strength was noted by 0.260 Nm/kg per time point (p < .001) in the LL group, which was higher than the LE (B = -0.220 Nm/kg, p < .001) and LS groups (B = -0.206, p < .001).
• A greater increase in running step length (2.464 cm per time point, p = .001) than LS group (B = -2.213, p = .013) was illustrated by the LL group.
• A similar improvement was brought to light in the back muscles function, among all three groups.