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Review
. 2019 Jul;31(7):590-597.
doi: 10.1589/jpts.31.590. Epub 2019 Jul 9.

Effects of McKenzie and stabilization exercises in reducing pain intensity and functional disability in individuals with nonspecific chronic low back pain: a systematic review

Anas Mohammed Alhakami  1   2 , Sally Davis  3 , Mohammed Qasheesh  4 , Abu Shaphe  4 , Aksh Chahal  4
Affiliations
Review

Effects of McKenzie and stabilization exercises in reducing pain intensity and functional disability in individuals with nonspecific chronic low back pain: a systematic review

Anas Mohammed Alhakami et al. J Phys Ther Sci. 2019 Jul.

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this review is to compare the effect of McKenzie and stabilization exercises in reducing pain and disability in individuals with chronic nonspecific low back pain. [Methods] A systematic literature review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were performed using 6 databases. The quality of reviewed articles were assessed by the risk of bias using the Cochrane collaboration's tool. [Results] A total of 829 articles were found from the databases, of which 10 were finally selected to be included in this review. The overall risk of bias assessment indicated that the risk of bias was low in one study and high in the other nine studies. One study reported reduced pain and two studies reported reduced functional disability in the McKenzie exercise group compared to other exercises. Two studies reported reduced pain and three studies reported reduced functional disability in the stabilization exercise group compared to other exercises. In two studies, the stabilization exercise group was as effective as McKenzie exercise group in reducing pain and functional disability in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. [Conclusion] Only two studies compared stabilization and McKenzie exercises in the management of chronic nonspecific low back pain. Therefore, insufficient evidence is available to draw any conclusive comparison on the effects of McKenzie and stabilization exercises in chronic nonspecific low back pain. However, both McKenzie and stabilization exercises was better than conventional exercise programs in reducing functional disability in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.

Keywords: Low back pain; McKenzie exercises; Stabilization exercises.

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Conflict of interest statement

None reported.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Results and process of literature search.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Risk of bias graph: review authors’ judgments about each risk of bias item presented as percentages across all included studies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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