The Effects of Different Surfaces on Pain, Endurance, and Balance During Low Back Strengthening Exercises in Patients with Low Back Pain

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the therapeutic effects of lumbar strengthening exercises performed on different surfaces (stable versus unstable) in reducing pain intensity, improving muscular endurance, and enhancing postural balance in individuals with low back pain. Method: Twenty participants with visual analog scale (VAS) scores ranging from 4 to 7 were recruited and randomly assigned to either an unstable surface lumbar exercise group (USLEG, n=10) or a stable surface lumbar exercise group (SSLEG, n=10). Both groups completed a 50-minute lumbar strengthening program three times per week for eight weeks. Results: A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA revealed significant group-by-time interaction effects for both the VAS and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) (both p