title: Effect of functional lumbar stabilization exercises on pain, disability, and kinesiophobia in women with menstrual low back pain: a preliminary trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this preliminary study was to investigate the effect of functional lumbar stabilization exercises on pain, disability, and kinesiophobia in women with menstrual low back pain (LBP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty women with menstrual LBP participated in the study. Subjects were assigned to a control group (n = 10, mean age = 25.1 ± 4.7 years) and an intervention group (n = 20, mean age = 21.7±2.4 years). Treatment for the intervention group consisted of functional lumbar stabilization exercises, 10 repetitions each, 3 times a day, for 3 consecutive months. The women in the control group received no exercise and performed their regular activity daily living. Pain intensity using a Numeric Pain Scale (NPS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Roland-Morris Questionnaire (RMQ), and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) was collected at baseline and at the end of 3 months in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis (paired t test) revealed a significant decrease in NPS, ODI, RMQ, and TSK after treatment in the intervention group. No significant difference in NPS, ODI, RMQ, or TSK was found between pre- and postmeasurement scores in the control group. In the analysis of covariance, controlling for pretest scores, a significant difference was found between the 2 groups in the postmeasurement score of NPS (P = .01), ODI (P < .001), RMQ (P = .002), and TSK (P = .04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lumbar stabilization exercises were shown to improve pain, disability, and kinesiophobia during menstrual LBP for subjects who participated in this preliminary study compared to those who did not receive the intervention.
authors.affiliation: Doctor, Assistant Professor, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shakeri
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapist, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fathollahi
authors.affiliation: Doctor, Assistant Professor, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Noureddin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karimi
authors.affiliation: Doctor, Associate Professor, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Arab
keywords: Disability; Exercise; Low back pain; Menstruation; Pain