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 5.9mm) and during movement (39.4 +/- 9.1mm) 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 +/- 0.7kg/cm(2); sacroiliac joint: 2.0 +/- 0.7kg/cm(2)), active range of motion (flexion: 30.8 +/- 14.3 degrees; extension: 6.6 +/- 2.5 degrees), and proprioception (20 degrees flexion: 4.3 +/- 2.4 degrees; 10 degrees extension: 3.1 +/- 2.0 degrees) 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.