Efficacy of Back School Program and Swiss Ball Exercise on Pain and Core Endurance in Individuals with Non-Specific Low Back Pain

Non-specific low back pain affects people of all age groups and is one of the prime contributors in the list of disease globally. Management consists of education and reassurance, Physical therapy, analgesic medicines, non-pharmacological therapies, and timely review. Across the globe, the prevalence is 60% to 70% in a year. Range of exercise regimes are shown in various set ups, most effective regimen is still not clear. A group of 36 patients having non-specific low back pain between age groups 18-40 were randomly selected and allocated to two groups. Group A (n=16) received back school exercise whereas Swiss ball exercise was given to Group B (n=20). Baseline data for VAS and Core Endurance were taken on day one pre-treatment and at the end of two weeks post treatment. The results were analyzed by wilcoxon signed rank test within both groups. The study concluded that intra-group results showed significantly effective reduction in pain intensity for both the exercise regimens (Group A and Group B). Here, back school program showed no significant improvement in core endurance in subjects with non-specific low back pain whereas Swiss Ball Exercises showed improvement in core endurance. However, inter-group comparison showed no clinically significant change either in VAS or Core Endurance.