Effect of Core Engagement Exercises and Routine Exercise Therapy on Low Back Pain in Middle School Children

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Low back pain is defined as the region of pain between the lower ribs and hips. Low back pain with respect to middle school children corresponds to the age where children and adolescents go to school for longer periods of time, having heavy bags, assuming poor postures while sitting for prolonged hours. Poor posture, prolonged sitting and lack of physical activity results in back pain that leads to poor performance in school as well as attendance.

Detailed Description
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Middle school children are the children of the age where they spend most of their hours sitting in school. Low back pain often goes undiagnosed and unreported in children which persists and if left untreated, causes problems in later stages in life. Low back pain is the region of pain from lower ribs to hips. Children and teenagers often have lower back discomfort, which may be brought on by several conditions, including poor lifting skills, bad posture, and overuse injuries from sports or other physical activity. According to estimates, up to 50% of school-aged children may sometimes have lower back discomfort. The muscles that surround our spine are considered the core of our body. It is composed of the abdominal muscles on your front and sides, the erector muscles and gluteus. Each and every one of these muscles must work together in order to enhance the stability of the spine. When muscles contract they create force and stiffness. It is the stiffness part that is important for stability. When the core fails to meet the stability demands placed on the body during a certain lift, parts of the spine will be overloaded with forces that increase injury risk and performance will suffer. For that, various warm up exercises, stretches and mobility exercises are performed so that the body can work as stable linked system that works efficiently as well.

Official Title
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Effect of Core Engagement Exercises and Routine Exercise Therapy on Low Back Pain in Middle School Children

Conditions
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Low Back Pain

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Core Stability protocol
* Procedure: Routine exercise therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Middle aged school children between age 9 and 14. Both male and female. Back pain of 2 or greater on NPRS Exclusion Criteria: Structural observational deformity (kyposis, lordosis, scoliosis) History of post spinal surgery Acute low back pain flare up Pain or any other injury of lower limbs

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 10 Years
Maximum Age: 13 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: This is a single blinded randomized controlled trial having two groups. One group will be given Core Stabilization Protocol along with Routine exercise therapy whereas other group will only receive Routine Exercise therapy protocol. Both groups will be recruited concurrently.
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Group A<br>Patients in this group will receive Core Stability Protocol with Routine Exercise Protocol. A total of 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks will be given. | Procedure: Core Stability protocol<br>* 5 Minutes Warm up Hamstring stretch Back Extensor Stretch Hip Flexor Stretch Jumping Rope Stair Stepping Mountain Climbers Curl Up Side Planks Bird Dog Frequency: 3 sessions per week for six weeks. Time Duration: Approx. 30 to 45 minutes<br>Procedure: Routine exercise therapy<br>* 5 Minutes Warm up Hamstring stretch Back Extensor Stretch Hip Flexor Stretch Jumping Rope Stair Stepping Mountain Climbers Frequency: 3 sessions per week for six weeks. Time Duration: Approx. 30 to 45 minutes<br>|
| Active Comparator: Group B<br>Patients will receive Routine Exercise Protocol. A total of 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks will be given. | Procedure: Routine exercise therapy<br>* 5 Minutes Warm up Hamstring stretch Back Extensor Stretch Hip Flexor Stretch Jumping Rope Stair Stepping Mountain Climbers Frequency: 3 sessions per week for six weeks. Time Duration: Approx. 30 to 45 minutes<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pain Intensity | Pain will be measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, which is an 11-item scale. | 6 week | 
| Trunk Extensor Endurance | Trunk extensor endurance will be measured using McGill Endurance Test Battery | 6 week | 
| Trunk Flexor Endurance | Trunk flexor endurance will be measured using McGill Endurance Test Battery | 06 Week | 
| Lateral Endurance | Trunk lateral endurance will be measured using McGill Endurance Test Battery | 06 Week |