General characteristics of all patients.

Study designProspective single-center observational study.ObjectiveTo investigate the effects and limitations of self-motor-control exercise in patients with chronic low back pain.Summary of background dataAlthough exercise therapy and physical therapy have been shown to be effective in treating chronic low back pain, these therapies are often discontinued due to patients’ non-compliance, and their effectiveness cannot be fully demonstrated.MethodsFifteen patients with low back pain, no apparent organic disease, who had been symptomatic for at least three months, and could continue motor-control exercise at home for at least six months were included in the study. Low back pain (visual analog scale [VAS]), locomotor 25, stand-up test, two-step test, trunk and total body muscle mass by the impedance method, and spinal sagittal alignment were examined before the intervention to establish a baseline, and at two and six months after the intervention.ResultSignificant improvement was observed in the back pain VAS (pConclusionsSelf-exercise for patients with chronic low back pain was effective in improving pain and function, although it did not directly affect muscle mass or alignment. Moreover, strength training of the lumbar back muscles alone was not found to be effective in patients with spinal deformities.