title: Effect of spinal stabilization exercise on dynamic postural control and visual dependency in subjects with chronic non-specific low back pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Motor control approach towards chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) has gained increasing attention. CNLBP patients have shown to be more visually dependent for the postural control process than control subjects but no study has yet investigated the treatment programs effect on this disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty CNLBP patients volunteered to participate in this experimental study. The subjects were randomly assigned into either stabilization exercise (SE) or control group both receiving 12 sessions of routine physiotherapy for four weeks. The SE group also received intensive stabilization exercise. Balance (in terms of overall (OSI), anteroposterior (APSI) and mediolateral stability indices (MLSI)) and functional disability were assessed by Biodex Balance System(®) (BBS) and Oswestry Low Back Disability Questionnaire, respectively prior and after the interventions. The balance tests were performed with open and closed eyes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both interventions significantly decreased all stability indices but the SE group showed a more pronounced improvement in OSI and APSI. In the SE group, vision deprivation had smaller destabilizing effects on OSI and APSI as compared with the control group. The groups were not statistically different prior and after the interventions on all dependent variables. Oswestry index reduction in the SE group was more pronounced but the interaction of time and group variables were not significant on pain intensity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both interventions effectively enhanced stability indices and functional capabilities and reduced pain intensity in CNLBP patients. The SE protocol made the patients less visual dependent perhaps via better stability. Since pain reduction was not different between the groups, more functional improvement in SE group cannot simply be interpreted via the pain interference and might be related to postural control capabilities of the patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahyar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salavati
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Behnam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Akhbari
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ismail Ebrahimi
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Takamjani
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bagheri
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Kamran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ezzati
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: amir_h_k@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Amir Hossein
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kahlaee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059350:Chronic Pain; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Balance; Low back pain; Spinal stabilization exercise; Vision