ReviewHealthcare (Basel, Switzerland)2025
Pain and Disability Therapy with Stabilization Exercises in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Meta-Analysis.
Review in Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Investigation of the effect of different intensity stabilization exercises on core muscle stiffness and pain in chronic low back pain: a single-blind, randomized controlled trial.Rheumatology international · 2025Trial
- Effects of Adding MedX Lumbar Extension or Deadlift Exercises to a Core Stabilization Program on Extensor Strength, Disability, and Pain in Men with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Pilot Trial.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Combined Effects of Physiotherapy and Vitamin D Supplementation on Pain, Disability, and IL-6 Expression in Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Efficacy of Tuina combined with core stability training on lumbar stability and clinical outcomes in patients with lumbar disc herniation: a randomized controlled trial protocol.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Impact of Tobacco Exposure on Low Back Pain-Related Disability-Adjusted Life Years in China: Trends From 1990-2021 and Projections for the Next 15 years Using ARIMA Modeling.Journal of pain research · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundChronic low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide, necessitating effective interventions to alleviate pain and improve function. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of stabilization exercises for pain relief and disability reduction in patients with chronic low back pain.
methodsA meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA and Cochrane guidelines. Randomized controlled trials evaluating stabilization exercises for chronic low back pain were included. Subgroup analyses were performed based on treatment duration, type of pain (specific vs. non-specific), study quality, and exercise type. Effect sizes were calculated using standardized mean differences (SMD), and evidence quality was assessed using the GRADE tool.
resultsA total of 23 studies involving 1132 participants were included. The meta-analysis revealed that longer treatment durations (8-12 weeks) showed the strongest effects on pain reduction (SMD = -0.88) and disability improvement (SMD = -0.85). For pain type, non-specific low back pain responded better (SMD = -0.81 for pain, -0.73 for disability) compared to specific LBP (SMD = -0.61 and -0.42, respectively). The 6-week duration also demonstrated moderate effects (SMD = -0.72 for pain). Core stability exercises had superior pain reduction (SMD = -0.90, large effect) compared to spinal stability exercises (SMD = -0.57), while spinal stability exercises showed higher-quality evidence for disability improvement (SMD = -0.56, high-quality) versus core stability (SMD = -0.62, low-quality).
conclusionStabilization exercises are a highly effective intervention for chronic low back pain, offering significant pain relief and functional improvement. They outperform other common interventions and should be prioritized in clinical practice, particularly in longer-duration, supervised programs. These findings provide strong evidence to guide treatment protocols and improve outcomes for patients with chronic low back pain.
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Registered trials
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