Effects of Core Stability Exercise and Lumbar Rotation Manipulation: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Background: Myogenic low back pain is a common occupational musculoskeletal condition associated with reduced lumbar flexibility and functional mobility. Exercise-based and manual therapy interventions are widely applied; however, comparative evidence in physically demanding work settings remains limited.
Objective: To compare the effects of Core Stability Exercise (CSE) and Lumbar Rotation Manipulation (LRM) on lumbar flexibility and pain intensity in workers with myogenic low back pain.
Methods: A quasi-experimental pre–post two-group study was conducted among 30 workers at the Fish Smoking Center in Bandarharjo, Semarang. Participants were allocated to either the CSE group (n = 15) or the LRM group (n = 15). Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and lumbar flexibility was assessed using the Schober Test. Paired t-tests were used for within-group analyses, and independent t-tests compared change scores (Δ = post–pre) between groups.
Results: Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in lumbar flexibility (p < 0.001). The CSE group showed an increase in Schober scores from 3.45 ± 0.32 to 4.89 ± 0.45, while the LRM group improved from 3.42 ± 0.32 to 5.43 ± 0.42. No significant within-group reductions in pain intensity were observed in either group. Between-group comparisons revealed significant differences in change scores for lumbar flexibility and pain intensity (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: CSE and LRM effectively improved lumbar flexibility but did not produce meaningful short-term pain reduction. Longer intervention durations or multimodal physiotherapy approaches may be required to achieve clinically relevant analgesic outcomes.