Page 99 - Petelin, Ana, ur. 2024. Zdravje delovno aktivnih in starejših odraslih / Health of Working-Age and Older Adults. Zbornik povzetkov z recenzijo ▪︎ Book of Abstracts. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press

The effect of pelvic floor muscle exercises on chronic low back pain

Urša Horvat, Manca Salmič, Denisa Manojlović Ivezić
University of Primorska Faculty of Health Sciences, Izola, Slovenia

Introduction: Chronic low back pain represents a major problem for the global popula-
tion, as it adversely affects individuals` overall well-being, diminishes work productivity
and leads to high treatment costs. Non-pharmacological treatment, including physio-
therapy, is a key method for managing this type of pain condition. One of the less stud-
ied physiotherapy methods that potentially contributes to the management of chron-
ic low back pain is pelvic floor muscle training, the effectiveness of which we evaluated
through this literature review.
Methods: In the systematic literature review, randomized controlled trials identified
through the PubMed and Google Scholar databases were included. All studies, regard-
less of the year of publication, written in English language and meeting the inclusion cri-
teria, were reviewed. These criteria included that the studies were randomized con-
trolled trials, with participants being individuals with chronic lower back pain, and that
the intervention involved pelvic floor muscle exercises. The quality of included studies
was assessed using the PEDro scale.
Results: Seven randomized controlled trials were included in the systematic literature
review. Their methodological quality was rated as “fair” (> 4) according to the PEDro
scale. The results of the studies showed that a treatment consisting of standard physio-
therapy (electrotherapy, thermotherapy, ultrasound therapy, back muscle strengthen-
ing exercises) and pelvic floor muscle training significantly reduces pain and improves
the functionality of people with chronic low back pain. Furthermore, this combina-
tion proved to be significantly more effective intervention than standard physiothera-
py treatment alone. Nevertheless, the reduction in chronic low back pain is more pro- preventiva in rehabilitacija ... | prevention and rehabilitation ...
nounced when we add trunk stabilization exercises to standard treatment than when
we add pelvic floor muscle exercises.
Discussion and conclusion: The main finding of our literature review suggests that inte-
grating pelvic floor muscle training into standard treatment represents an effective ap-
proach for reducing pain and improving functionality in individuals with chronic low
back pain. More high-quality randomized controlled trials with a broader spectrum
of participants are warranted in order to support the development of more precise
guidelines for physiotherapeutic approaches in individual treatment. Additionally, re-
search investigating the long-term effects of pelvic floor muscle training on chronic low
back pain would be beneficial for a better understanding of its long-term therapeu-
tic potential.
Keywords: low back pain, pelvic floor muscles, exercise, physiotherapy treatment

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