Authors (year) | Number of RCT’s included in systematic review (SR) /meta-analyses (MA) | Population Number of subjects, definition of LBP, pain duration, % women, age | Intervention Descriptive | Control Descriptive |
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Byström et al. (2013) [48] | SR: 16 MA: 16 | Number of subjects: 1768 Definition: At least 80% of the participants should have chronic or recurrent LBP. Included some subacute patients with average duration exceeded 6 mo Duration: ≥ 12 wks % Women: NR Age: at least 16 yrs | MCE exercises described as “abdominal hollowing” or “abdominal draw-in” or if it was stated that the initial stage aimed to isolate isometric contraction of the TrA and/or the ME Training period: mean 8.2 (SD 1.8) wks (calculated from the tables), mean 11.3 (SD 4.0) sessions (calculated from the tables) | General Exercise (GE) Spinal Manual Therapy (SMT) Minimal Intervention (MI): no intervention, advice/education or placebo treatment Multimodal Physical Therapy (MM-PT) Multimodal intervention vs other components of that intervention (OM) Training period: GE: Mean 7.5 (0.9) wks SMT: Mean 7.0 (2.3) wks MI: Mean 9.0 (1.4) wks MPT: poorly reported OM: 10.0 (2.8) wks (Calculated from the tables) |
Elbayomy et al. (2018) [51] | SR: 34 MA: 34 | Number of subjects: 2514 Definition: Adult patients with chronic nonspecific LBP Duration: ≥ 12 wks % Women: NR Age: NR | Core strengthening as dynamic stabilization, motor control (neuromuscular) training, neutral spine control and trunk stabilization Training period: 4–12 wks, 2–4 times per wk | General exercises (GE) Multimodal physical therapy (MM-PT) Manual therapy (MT) Minimal interventions (MI): NR Training period: NR |
Ferreira et al. (2006) [49] | SR: 12 MA: 12 | Number of subjects: Number of participants not reported. 965 Definition: Adults with symptoms in the cervical, thoracic, low back, or pelvic area. Symptoms could be referred to the arms (from cervical and thoracic spine) or to the legs (from lumbar spine or pelvis). Subacute /recurrent (n = 8) chronic > 12 wks (n = 5) Duration: NR % Women: NR Age: Adults | Specific stabilization exercise described activating, training, or restoring the stabilization function of specific muscles of the spine and pelvis such as deep neck flexors, multifidus, transversus abdominis, diaphragm, or pelvic floor muscles. Specific stabilization exercise could be administered in isolation or in conjunction with other therapies Training period: 3–20 wks, 1–3 times/wk | Surgery, conventional physiotherapy: NR, manual therapy. general exercises Training period: NR |
Gomes-Neto et al. (2017) [52] | SR: 11 MA: 11 | Number of subjects: 1014 Definition: Chronic non-specific LBP > 3 mo w/o leg pain Duration: NR % Women: NR Age: NR | Stabilization exercises was considered as prescribed exercises aimed at improving function of specific trunk muscles that control inter-segmental movement of the spine, including the transversus abdominis, multifidus, diaphragm, and pelvic floor muscles Training period: 4–36 wks, 1–3 times/wk. 20–60 min, progressive nature of the program | GE was prescribed exercises that included strengthening and/or stretching exercises for the main muscle groups of the body as well as exercises for cardiovascular fitness. MT comprised physiotherapy based on joint mobilization or manipulation techniques Training period: NR |
Henao & Bedoya (2016) [40] | SR: 6 MA: 0 | Number of subjects: 663 Definition: Duration: ≥ 3 mo % Women: NR Age: NR | Core exercise Training period: 4-8wks, daily-3times/w, 40–60 min/session | GE (aerobe and strength training), minimal intervention: NR, no physical exercises Training period: 4-8wks |
Luomajoki et al. (2018) [53] | SR: 11 MA: 11 | Number of subjects: 781 Definition: Subacute LBP, chronic LBP or pain more than 6 wks Duration: No restrictions in terms of pain duration % Women: NR Age: NR | MVCE (more than 50%) To change movement behavior, through a combination of physical and cognitive learning processes Training period: 4–12 wks, one study = 1 yr | Other active interventions (n = 9); focus on function and performance of individual muscles. No intervention (n = 2) Training period: NR |
Macedo et al. (2009) [54] | SR:14 MA: 14 | Number of subjects: 1696 Definition: Persistent, Nonspecific LBP (with or without leg pain) for at least 6 wks Duration: 6 wks to 1 yrs % Women: Studies evaluating individuals of all age groups of either sex were included. NR Age: 16–80 yrs | Motor control specific spinal stabilization or core exercise. Exercise targeting specific trunk muscles to improve control and coordination of the spine and pelvic Training period: 4–12 wks, 1–3 sessions/wk. (4–60 sessions in total), 30–90 min/sessions | Home exercises/home program Training period: NR |
Niederer & Mueller (2020) [55] | SR: 10 MA: 10 | Number of subjects: 1081 Definition: Non-acute (sub-acute or chronic > 6 wks of duration at the time of study inclusion) non-specific low back pain. Nonspecific chronic low back pain Duration: subacute chronic nonspecific low back pain = 6 wks (n = 1), = 8 wks (n = 1), 12 wks (n = 7), non-specified (n = 1) % Women: 62% Age: Mean (SD) = 43.4 yrs (11.1) (calculated from the tables) | Motor control core-specific sensorimotor / neuromuscular / sensorimotor / perturbation / core stability stabilization / stabilization exercises/training interventions with a defined completion time Training period: mean 5.8 wks 6 of 10 studies = 8 wks (calculated from the tables), 1–12 times/wk. mean 5.5 times/wk., mean 53 min, range 30–90 min | Active or Passive (compared to an inactive or passive control group or compared to other exercises). Inactive control (n = 1), Passive treatment (n = 2), Other exercise (n = 7), pain management, daily walks Training period: mean 5.8 wks, 6 of 10 studies = 8 wks (calculated from the tables). 30 min walk every day (1 study). NR (9 studies) |
Saragiotto et al. (2016) [16] | SR: 29 MA: 29 | Number of subjects: 2431 Definition: chronic (> 12 wks) non-specific LBP (with or without leg pain) or recurrent LBP. > 75% should have chronic LBP Duration: ≥ 12 wks % Women: NR Age: NR | Motor Control Exercises Training period: 20 days-12wks, (median (IQR) = 8 (2.0) wks), with a median of 12 sessions (IQR: 6.0), 1–5 times/wk | "Other types of exercises (n = 16), MI (n = 7), MT (n = 5), Exercise and electrophysical agents (n = 3) Telerehabilitation based on home exercises (n = 1) Training period: Other exercise: 8wks (n = 8), 6wks (n = 3), 10 wks (n = 1) 4 wks (n = 1), N.R. n = 3) mean = MI: 12 wks (n = 1), poorly reported, MT: 6–8 wks, N.R. (1 study) Exercise and EPA: mean 6.3 wks (8 + 7 + 4), Telerehabilitation: 6 wks |
Smith et al. (2014) [56] | SR: 29 MA: 29 | Number of subjects: 2258 Definition: Non-specific LBP of any time. Low back pain defined as, but not restrictive to pain and /or stiffness between the lower rib and buttock crease with or without leg pain Duration: 10 studies inclusive patients > 3 mo, 2 studies > 2mo, several not specified % Women: NR Age: NR | Stabilization, or “core stability”, exercises defined as facilitation of deep muscles of the spine (primarily transversus abdominis or multifidus) at low level, integrated into exercise, progression into functional activity Training period: 4 to 8 wks, 1–3 sessions /wk., 20–60 min/session. 20–90 min (median (IQR) = 45 (30) min) | General Exercise (GE) Spinal Manual Therapy (SMT) Minimal Intervention (MI): educational booklet Multimodal Physical Therapy (MM-PT) Other components of MMI (OM) Training period: "Other exercise: 1–1,5x/wk. (n = 3), 1x/wk./45 min (n = 1), 2x/wk. (n = 1), 2x/wk./20–60 min (n = 4), 3x/wk./60 min (n = 1), 5x/wk./30 min (n = 1), 12 × 60 min (n = 1), 45 min (n = 1), N.R. (n = 3) MI: max 12 sessions (n = 1), poorly reported MT: 1x/wk. or max 10–12 Exercise EPA: sessions, 12x/30 min, 20 × 30 min, 35 × 40 min Telerehabiltation: 1x/day, phone calls 2x/wks |
Wang et al. (2012) [57] | SR: 5 MA: 4 | Number of subjects: 494 Definition: Chronic LBP (longer than 3 mo) Duration: ≥ 3 mo % Women: NR Age: NR | Core stability training is described as the reinforcement of the ability to insure stability of the neutral spine position. Core stability exercises were usually performed on labile devices, such as an air-filled disc, a low-density mat, a wobble board, or a Swiss ball Training period: 12 sessions over 8 wks, 1 session/wk for 8 wks, 1 session/wk for 8 wks, 2 sessions/wk for 6 wks, 1 session/wk for 8 wks | GE; strengthening, stretch and aerobic exercises, trunk strengthening and stretching, exercises, superficial strengthening exercises (n = 15), trunk strengthening and stretching exercises, physical exercises (n = 40) Training period:12 treatment sessions over 8 wk, 1 session/wk for 8 wk over 8 wks, 1 session/wk for 8 wks, 2 sessions/wk for 6 wks, 1 session/wk for 8 wks |
Zhang et al. (2021) [58] | SR: 18 MA: 18 | Number of subjects: 1098 Definition: Non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) Duration: Pain duration or recurrence more than ≥ 12wks Women: 42% Age: 23–55 yrs | MCE (e.g., trunk stability exercise, core stability exercises, stabilization exercise, perturbation-based therapy) that target specific trunk muscles to improve control of the spine and pelvic Length of session: 25–90 min Number of intervention sessions: 4–24 Training period:1–13 wks. 1–3 sessions/wks | Sham treatment/placebo treatment (minimal intervention such as no intervention), hands-on therapies (spinal manipulative therapy/manual therapy) and other hands-off therapies (other exercises). As yoga, graded activity, gyrotonic expansion exercise, global exercise, general exercise/conventional physiotherapy, sling exercise, McKenzie exercise Training period: same as intervention |