Core exercises may boost back pain relief in overweight adults — a trial puts it to the test
NCT ID NCT07727525
First seen Jul 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 28, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
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.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- core strengthening exercises (plank, side plank, superman) plus conventional physical therapy
- What this could lead to
- If effective, adding simple core exercises to standard therapy could offer a low-cost way to reduce pain and disability in overweight adults with chronic back pain.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial with 60 participants, so results may not apply broadly. Core exercises may not provide additional benefit over standard care alone.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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60 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2023
- Finished
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Jun 2023
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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25 to 45 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Male and female participants. Age between 25 and 45 years. Diagnosed with chronic mechanical low back pain lasting more than 3 months. Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m² (overweight or obese). Body fat percentage \> 25%. Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) score \< 7 at baseline. Able and willing to provide written informed consent. Willing to participate in the complete 6-week intervention program. Exclusion Criteria: Non-mechanical low back pain. Acute low back pain. Previous lumbar spine surgery (e.g., laminectomy or discectomy). Spondylolisthesis. Osteoporosis or spinal fractures. Cauda equina syndrome. Current history of spinal trauma or surgery. Lumbar spine myelopathy. Diagnosed metabolic diseases. Neurological disorders affecting the spine or lower limbs. Any medical condition that would contraindicate participation in the exercise program.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Elite Physical Therapy Centre
Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, Pakistan
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