title: Effect of Lumbar Progressive Resistance Exercise on Lumbar Muscular Strength and Core Muscular Endurance in Soldiers.
abstract: Low back pain is common, costly, and disabling for active duty military personnel and veterans. The evidence is unclear on which management approaches are most effective. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of lumbar extensor high-intensity progressive resistance exercise (HIPRE) training versus control on improving lumbar extension muscular strength and core muscular endurance in soldiers.
  
  
  
  A randomized controlled trial was conducted with active duty U.S. Army Soldiers (n = 582) in combat medic training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Soldiers were randomized by platoon to receive the experimental intervention (lumbar extensor HIPRE training, n = 298) or control intervention (core stabilization exercise training, n = 284) at one set, one time per week, for 11 weeks. Lumbar extension muscular strength and core muscular endurance were assessed before and after the intervention period.
  
  
  
  At 11-week follow-up, lumbar extension muscular strength was 9.7% greater (p = 0.001) for HIPRE compared with control. No improvements in core muscular endurance were observed for HIPRE or control.
  
  
  
  Lumbar extensor HIPRE training is effective to improve isometric lumbar extension muscular strength in U.S. Army Soldiers. Research is needed to explore the clinical relevance of these gains.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, MDC77, Tampa, FL 33647.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.affiliation: Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy, U.S. Army-Baylor University, 3630 Stanley Road, Building 2841, Suite 1301, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Childs
authors.affiliation: Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., 6720 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817.
authors.forename: Brett D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Neilson
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612.
authors.forename: Henian
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy, U.S. Army-Baylor University, 3630 Stanley Road, Building 2841, Suite 1301, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.
authors.forename: Shane L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Koppenhaver
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, MDC77, Tampa, FL 33647.
authors.forename: William S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Quillen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D053580:Muscle Strength; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D013781:Texas