Effects of a Combined Lumbar Motor Control and Hip Strengthening Program on Pain and Function in Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background and objectives: This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week combined lumbar motor control and hip muscle strengthening program in individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain (NSLBP). Methods: Fifty-four adults with chronic NSLBP were randomized to a combined lumbar motor control and hip muscle strengthening program (n = 27) or lumbar motor control alone (n = 27). The intervention comprised 24 in-person sessions over 8 weeks. Pain intensity and disability were assessed before and after treatment using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), respectively. CONSORT recommendations were followed. Results: Both groups achieved meaningful improvements from baseline, showing a median pain reduction of 15 mm and a median disability reduction of 5 points in the experimental group and 4 points in the control group. However, between-group comparisons revealed no statistically significant differences for either pain (p = 0.165) or disability (p = 0.380). Clinically meaningful individual improvements were achieved by 55.6% of the experimental group versus 51.9% of controls for pain intensity (p ≥ 0.05), and by 44.4% versus 25.9% for disability (p ≥ 0.05), respectively. Conclusions: Both interventions effectively reduced pain and disability. However, adding hip strengthening cannot be considered superior to lumbar motor control alone.