Role of Postural Control Exercises and Pelvic Floor Strengthening Exercises on Chronic Low Back Pain of Women with Sitting Jobs

A lot of factors can give rise to low back pain and spinal instability attributes to one of them. Stability of spine is directly dependent on the strength of postural muscles which can be linked easily with postural control. Hence, postural control is likely to directly alter the spinal stability. Muscles of pelvic floor function along with muscles of back and abdomen to support the spine. This study aims to evaluate the effect of exercises to strengthen pelvic floor muscles and exercises for postural control in the treatment of chronic LBP and on posture, pain, and quality of life. [Subjects and Methods] Sample size of twenty-five participants was taken based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and divided to three groups namely PFM exercises group (n = 8), postural control exercises group (n = 8) and the control group (n = 9). All the three groups were given treatment for half an hour a day, thrice a week for 5 weeks. Conventional treatment that includes electrotherapy and general exercises was given to control group. Experimental groups received conventional treatment and additional exercises for pelvic floor muscles and posture control. [Results] Pain and functional disability was significantly reduced after treatment (p < 0.01) in all the three groups, but there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) found in both experimental groups. All the outcome measures were improved significantly (p < 0.01) in all groups although both experimental groups demonstrated significant improvement in Visual Analog Scale scores, and World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment-BREF scores in contrast to control group. [Conclusion] Study concluded that the exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles combined with conventional treatment and exercises for postural control combined with conventional treatment can provide better outcome as compared to conventional treatment alone in patients with chronic low back pain. Controlling the posture and muscular activities through these exercises also improves the patients' quality of life.