The effect of aquatic exercise on functional disability, flexibility and function of trunk muscles in postmenopausal women with chronic non-specific low back pain: Randomized controlled trial

Objectives. - This study investigated the effect of 8-week aquatic exercise training on pain, flexibility, and function of trunk muscles in postmenopausal women with non-specific chronic low back pain. Methods. - Twenty women with Chronic non-specific low back pain were voluntarily selected and randomly divided into the experimental (n = 10) and control (n = 10) groups. The experimental group participated in 24 sessions (3 sessions per week) water-based exercises, consisting of a 15 minutes warm-up, 35 minutes of main exercises, and 10 minutes to cool down. Baseline measurements, such as age, height, weight, BMI, functional disability, flexibility, and function of trunk muscles for each participant were assessed and recorded one week before and after the intervention period. Results. - After 8 weeks of aquatic exercise training, functional disability (P <= 0.007) and flexibility (P <= 0.009) of participants in the experimental group significantly improved compared to the control. Furthermore, the EMG values of the rectus abdominis (P < 0.001), external oblique (P < 0.001), longissimus thoracic (P < 0.021) and lumbar multifidus (P < 0.009) muscles in the experimental group significantly improved compared to the control group. Conclusion. - It can be concluded that aquatic exercise has a positive effect on pain reduction, flexibility, and EMG values of postmenopausal women with chronic low back pain. (C) 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.