The effects of the CORE programme on pain at rest, movement-induced and secondary pain, active range of motion, and proprioception in female office workers with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of the CORE programme on pain at rest, movement-induced pain, secondary pain, active range of motion, and proprioception deficits in female office workers with chronic low back pain.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Rehabilitation clinics.

Subjects: A total of 53 participants with chronic low back pain were randomized into the CORE group and the control group.

Intervention: CORE group participants underwent the 30-minute CORE programme, five times per week, for eight weeks, with additional use of hot-packs and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, while the control group used only hot-packs and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

Main measures: Participants were evaluated pretest, posttest, and two months after the intervention period to measure resting and movement-induced pain, pressure pain as secondary pain, active range of pain-free motion, and trunk proprioception.

Results: Pain intensity at rest (35.6 ±5.9 mm) and during movement (39.4 ±9.1 mm) was significantly decreased in the CORE group following intervention compared with the control group. There were significant improvements in pressure pain thresholds (quadratus lumborum: 2.2 ±0.7 kg/cm(2); sacroiliac joint: 2.0 ±0.7 kg/cm(2)), active range of motion (flexion: 30.8 ±14.3°; extension: 6.6 ±2.5°), and proprioception (20° flexion: 4.3 ±2.4°; 10° extension: 3.1 ±2.0°) in the CORE group following intervention (all p < 0.05). These improvements were maintained at the two-month follow-up. The control group did not show significant improvements in any measured parameter.

Conclusion: The CORE programme is an effective intervention for reducing pain at rest and movement-induced pain, and for improving the active range of motion and trunk proprioception in female office workers with chronic low back pain.

Keywords: CORE programme; Movement-induced pain; active range of motion; chronic low back pain; proprioception.