NCT07382232

Isometric Stability vs. Isotonic Mobility for Chronic LBP

An RCT of Isometric Stability Versus Isotonic Mobility for LBP Rehabilitation

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (actual)
• Sponsor: Palestine Ahliya University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability, often requiring primary care management. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of isometric versus isotonic exercise programs for LBP. Methods: Sixty adults with LBP were randomly assigned to two groups. Group A (n=30) performed isometric exercises, infrared therapy, and TENS. Group B (n=30) performed isotonic exercises with the same adjunct therapies. Pain (VAS), disability (MODI), and abdominal endurance were measured pre- and post-intervention. Keywords: Exercise therapy; low back pain; disability evaluation

Detailed description

Group-Specific Exercise Protocols: * Isometric Exercise Group (IEG): This group performed a circuit of three core-stabilizing isometric exercises, each held for 10 seconds with brief rest intervals, for 5 complete repetitions. The exercises included: (a) Isometric Curl-Up, (b) Side Bridge, and (c) Bird Dog. The total dedicated exercise time was approximately 20 minutes per session. * Isotonic Exercise Group (ITG): This group performed a circuit of three dynamic, strength-oriented isotonic exercises, each completed for 10 repetitions. The exercises included: (a) Bent Knee Sit-Up, (b) Cross Curl-Up, and (c) Prone Back Extension. The total dedicated exercise time was also approximately 20 minutes per session. All exercises were selected and adapted from previously published rehabilitation protocols for CLBP \[13\]. Adjunctive Therapies (Common to Both Groups): 1. Infrared (IR) Therapy: A standard therapeutic infrared lamp was positioned 50 cm from the participant's lumbar spine at a 90-degree angle. Heat was applied for 15 minutes per session to promote muscle relaxation and local blood flow. 2. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS): Electrodes were placed over the painful lumbar area. A low-frequency (\<10 Hz) TENS unit was applied for 20 minutes per session. The analgesic mechanism of TENS is well-documented, involving the modulation of pain pathways via opioid and noradrenergic receptors in the central nervous system \[16\]. Both groups received a standardized four-week intervention program, consisting of three supervised sessions per week, totaling 12 sessions. Each 55-minute session included adjunctive therapies common to both groups, followed by the specific exercise protocol.

Conditions

• LBP

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Isometric exercises	• Isometric Exercise Group (IEG): This group performed a circuit of three core-stabilizing isometric exercises, each held for 10 seconds with brief rest intervals, for 5 complete repetitions. The exercises included: (a) Isometric Curl-Up, (b) Side Bridge, and (c) Bird Dog. The total dedicated exercise time was approximately 20 minutes per session.
OTHER	Isotonic exercises	• Isotonic Exercise Group (ITG): This group performed a circuit of three dynamic, strength-oriented isotonic exercises, each completed for 10 repetitions. The exercises included: (a) Bent Knee Sit-Up, (b) Cross Curl-Up, and (c) Prone Back Extension. The total dedicated exercise time was also approximately 20 minutes per session. All exercises were selected and adapted from previously published rehabilitation protocols for CLBP \[13\].

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-02-01
• Primary completion: 2025-06-01
• Completion: 2025-08-01
• First posted: 2026-02-02
• Last updated: 2026-02-02

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Palestinian Territories