THE EFFECT OF CORE STABILIZATION EXERCISE ON THE SERUM LEVEL OF ACTIVIN A AND BACK PERFORMANCE SCALE IN ELDERLY WOMEN WITH CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

Background & Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of core stabilization exercise on the serum level of Activin A and back performance scale in elderly women. Materials & Methods: This study was a semi-experimental research. Eighteen volunteer women with low back pain (age 69.1±2.45 years, body mass index 25.5±2.84 kg/m2 and fat percentage 33.7±2.95%) were randomly divided into two equal groups (each with 9 individuals): experimental and control. Core stabilization training group performed the exercises 3 times per week, 60 minutes each time, for 8 weeks, while the control group was followed up. Body composition, Activin A levels, and back performance scale were measured in two groups before and after the intervention. Results: Ten weeks of core stabilization training significantly reduced Activin A serum level (from 5.62 ng/ml to 2.84 ng/ml) (p=0.000) and improved back performance scale (from 58.5% to 33.3%) (p=0.002) in elderly women with low back pain in the exercise group compared with the control group. Conclusion: Core stabilization exercise improves the back performance scale and reduces Activin A level in elderly women with low back pain.