EFFECTIVENESS OF STABILITY BALL TRAINING, DEAD BUG EXERCISES, AND THEIR COMBINATION ON REDUCING SPECIFIC LOW BACK PAIN

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide and significantly impairs functional mobility and quality of life. Core stabilization exercises have gained attention for their non-invasive benefits in managing LBP. Stability ball training and dead bug exercises are commonly used approaches, yet their comparative and combined effects on pain reduction and quality of life require further investigation in individuals with acute LBP. Objective: To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of stability ball training, dead bug exercises, and their combination on pain intensity and health-related quality of life in individuals with specific low back pain. Methods: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted over six months at Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, and Alara Health Care Clinic. Sixty-nine participants aged 30–50 years with acute LBP and mild to moderate disc bulges were randomly assigned into three equal groups (n=21 each): Group A (stability ball exercises), Group B (dead bug exercises), and Group C (combined exercises). All participants received standard physiotherapy and performed supervised core interventions three times per week for eight weeks. Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and quality of life was measured using the Short Form-12 (SF-12) questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22. Results: At baseline, VAS scores were statistically similar across groups (p = 0.166). By the 8th week, Group C showed the most significant pain reduction (VAS = 2.78 ± 1.043) compared to Group A (VAS = 4.09 ± 1.125) and Group B (VAS = 3.74 ± 1.484), with p = 0.001. Physical health scores (PCS) at week 8 were highest in Group C (50.96 ± 4.695) versus Group A (43.96 ± 2.788) and Group B (45.91 ± 2.410), p = 0.001. Mental health scores (MCS) also favored Group C (57.00 ± 4.178), p = 0.002. Conclusion: All core stabilization exercises were effective in managing acute LBP; however, combining stability ball and dead bug exercises produced superior outcomes in pain reduction and quality of life. This supports the integration of multimodal core training in LBP rehabilitation protocols.