title: Comparison of lumbar spine stabilization exercise versus general exercise in young male patients with lumbar disc herniation after 1 year of follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The safest and most effective conservative treatment for patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) has not been established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of lumbar spine stabilization exercise (LSSE) and general exercise (GE) on pain intensity and functional capacity in young male patients with LDH.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-three young male adults aged 20 to 29 years with the diagnosis of LDH were enrolled and divided into an LSSE group (n=30) and a GE group (n=33). Patients in both groups received low-power laser (LPL) therapy during the first week of the onset of LDH. Patients in the GE group underwent a GE program. Patients in the LSSE group followed an LSSE program for 3 months. All of the patients were subjected to pain intensity and functional capacity evaluations four times: at pre-and post-LPL therapy, and at 3 months and 1 year post-exercise. Pain intensity of the lower back and legs was evaluated with the visual analogue scale (VAS), and functional capacity was evaluated with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups showed a significant reduction in VAS and ODI scores at 3 and 12 months post-exercise compared with before treatment (P<0.001). The LSSE group showed a significant reduction in the average score of the VAS for low back pain (P=0.012) and the ODI (P=0.003) at 12 months post-exercise compared with the GE group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LSSE and GE are considered as effective interventions for young male patients with LDH. Moreover, LSSE is more effective than GE, and physical therapy, such as LPL, is required during acute LDH.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic, Beijing Army General Hospital Beijing 100700, China.
authors: Chaoqun
authors: C
authors: Ye
authors: Department of Orthopaedic, Beijing Army General Hospital Beijing 100700, China.
authors: Jixin
authors: J
authors: Ren
authors: Department of Orthopaedic, Beijing Army General Hospital Beijing 100700, China.
authors: Jianzheng
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Orthopaedic, Beijing Army General Hospital Beijing 100700, China.
authors: Chongwei
authors: C
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Orthopaedic, Beijing Army General Hospital Beijing 100700, China.
authors: Zhi
authors: Z
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Orthopaedic, Beijing Army General Hospital Beijing 100700, China.
authors: Fang
authors: F
authors: Li
authors: Department of Orthopaedic, Beijing Army General Hospital Beijing 100700, China.
authors: Tiansheng
authors: T
authors: Sun
keywords: Young male patients; functional capacity; general exercise; lumbar disc herniation; lumbar spine stabilization exercise; pain intensity