EFFECT OF MOTOR CONTROL EXERCISES VERSUS MCGILL’S STABILIZATION EXERCISES ALONG WITH INTERFERENTIAL THERAPY ON PAIN AND DISABILITY IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Background & objectives: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a persistent musculoskeletal condition associated with pain, functional limitation and disability. Motor control exercises focus on retraining the deep trunk muscles and progressing toward coordinated functional tasks, whereas McGill’s stabilization exercises emphasize spinal stability through low-load exercises. The present study compared the effects of these two exercise approaches, with interferential therapy (IFT) used in both groups, on pain and disability in patients with CLBP. Methods: Fifty patients with CLBP were screened and 40 participants who met the eligibility criteria were included. Participants were selected by purposive sampling and allocated into two groups of 20 each. Group A received motor control exercises with IFT, while Group B received McGill’s stabilization exercises with IFT. Both groups received three sessions per week for six weeks; IFT was provided for the first 10 days. Pain and disability were assessed before treatment and after six weeks using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPDS), respectively. Within-group changes were examined using paired-sample t-tests and between-group changes using independent-samples t-tests. Results: Both groups demonstrated significant within-group reductions in VAS and QBPDS scores. In Group A, mean VAS decreased from 4.90±0.64 to 2.80±0.83 and mean QBPDS decreased from 25.85±4.76 to 13.45±3.10 (p<0.001 for both). In Group B, mean VAS decreased from 4.95±0.69 to 3.50±0.76 and mean QBPDS from 26.65±4.79 to 17.80±1.82 (p<0.001 for both). Between-group analysis showed greater mean reductions with motor control exercises for VAS (2.10 vs 1.45; t=-2.45, p=0.019) and QBPDS (12.40 vs 8.85; t=- 2.15, p=0.038). Conclusion: Motor control exercises combined with IFT produced significantly greater reductions in pain and disability than McGill’s stabilization exercises combined with IFT in this sample of patients with CLBP.