Core exercises may boost back pain relief in overweight adults — a trial puts it to the test

This trial investigates whether adding core strengthening exercises — like planks and side planks — to standard physical therapy can reduce pain and disability in overweight adults with chronic mechanical low back pain. Sixty participants aged 25 to 45 with a BMI of 25 or higher will be randomly assigned to receive either core exercises plus conventional therapy or conventional therapy alone for six weeks. Researchers will measure changes in pain intensity, functional disability, and body fat percentage to see if the extra exercises make a meaningful difference.