| Objective: To explore the long-term efficacy of spinal core stability training on chronic non-specific low back pain (CLBP). Methods: A total of 42 subjects with unilateral CLBP were randomly divided into the training group (n=21) and the control group (n=21). Both groups received conventional rehabilitation treatment after the first visit, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Besides, the training group was treated with the lumbar core stability training at the same period. All subjects were observed for one following year after the initial visit. VAS score, SF-36 score and lumbar spine MRI examination were performed before and 1 year after the treatment in each group. In analyzing the MRI results, total cross-sectional area (tCSA), muscle cross-sectional area (mCSA) and fat cross-sectional area (fCSA) of L3/L4 and L5/S1 segments were measured by Image J. Accordingly, fat signal fraction (FSF) was also calculated as fCSA/tCSA. Results: One year after the treatment, VAS scores in the training group were significantly reduced and SF 36 scores were significantly increased as compared with those before and after treatment in the control group (P<0.01). However, there was no statistically significant difference in scores before and after treatment in the control group. The MRI results of L3/L4 and L5/S1 segments showed that there was no statistically significant difference in FSF between the two groups before treatment, while the bilateral FSF of L3/L4 and L5/S1 segments in the training group after treatment was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Before treatment, FSF of the affected side of L3/L4 and L5/S1 was significantly higher than that of the healthy side in the two groups (P<0.05). After 1 year of treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in the FSF between the affected side and the healthy side of L3/L4 and L5/S1 segments in the training group, while the FSF of the affected side in the L3/L4 and L5/S1 segments in the control group was significantly higher than that in the healthy side (P<0.05). Conclusion: Core stability training for CLBP patients can reduce the pain and improve the quality of life of patients, which may be related to the reduction in the degree of fat infiltration of the multifidus muscle. |
