Efficacy of Abdominal Hollowing Versus Abdominal Bracing on Balance and Functional Disability among Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain Patients: An Article Review

Non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP), which affects 80% to 90% of adults, presents symptoms without a clearly identifiable source. This review aimed to evaluate the effects of abdominal hollowing versus abdominal bracing exercises on balance and functional disability in NSCLBP patients. A systematic search was conducted using the Google Scholar and PubMed databases, covering literature from 2006 to 2023. Out of 30 identified articles, only 4 met the inclusion criteria for this review. The results suggest that both abdominal bracing and abdominal hollowing exercises can improve balance and functional disability in NSCLBP patients. Functional disability improvements were associated with pain reduction, while dynamic balance was enhanced through core stability exercises, likely due to the preferential activation of core muscles following training adaptations, which reduces abnormal lumbar motion. However, the impact on static balance was not significant, indicating it may not be a useful outcome measure for NSCLBP in relation to these exercises.