IRCT | The effect of core stability exercises combined with the Alexander technique on balance, psychological indicators, and pain in women with chronic nonspecific low back pain.

Protocol summary

Study aim: The effect of core stability exercises combined with the Alexander technique on balance, psychological indicators, and pain in women with chronic nonspecific low back pain.
Design: Clinical trial with two control and exercise groups, with parallel groups, single-blind, randomized on 30 patients and randomization method by lottery.
Settings and conduct: This study will be conducted in the Sports Rehabilitation Laboratory of Be'ali Sina University. Subjects in two groups will complete questionnaires at two time points: pre-test and post-test: pain, quality of life, disability index, fear of movement, and a foot pressure device will be used to assess static and dynamic balance. The analysts will be blinded to the grouping.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria: The inclusion criteria for the study included 1. Pain in the spine for more than 12 weeks 2. No history of spine surgery 3. Age range 30 to 50 years. Exclusion criteria included 1. Abnormal body mass index 2. Severe deformity of the lower and upper limbs 3. History of surgery 4. Neuromuscular and neurological disorders
Intervention groups: Comprehensive core stability exercises combined with Alexander exercises.
Main outcome variables: Pain, functional disability, quality of life, fear of movement, static and dynamic balance

General information

Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information: IRCT registration number: IRCT20260512069366N1

Registration date: 2026-06-03, 1405/03/13

Registration timing: registered_while_recruiting

Last update: 2026-06-03, 1405/03/13

Update count: 0
Registration date: 2026-06-03, 1405/03/13

Registrant information: Name

Fatemeh Ghasemali

Name of organization / entity

Bu Ali Sina University, Hamadan

Country

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Phone

+98 81 3622 2715

Email address

f0373712@gmail.com

Recruitment status: Recruitment complete
Funding source

Expected recruitment start date: 2026-05-31, 1405/03/10
Expected recruitment end date: 2026-06-10, 1405/03/20
Actual recruitment start date: empty
Actual recruitment end date: empty
Trial completion date: empty

Scientific title: The effect of core stability exercises combined with the Alexander technique on balance, psychological indicators, and pain in women with chronic nonspecific low back pain.

Public title: The effect of core stability exercises combined with the Alexander technique on balance, psychological indicators, and pain in women with chronic nonspecific low back pain.
Purpose: Treatment
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria: Inclusion criteria:

Pain in the spine for more than 12 weeks No history of spinal surgery Age range 30 to 50 years

Exclusion criteria:

Abnormal body mass index Severe deformity of the lower and upper limbs History of surgery Neuromuscular and neurological disorders
Age: From 30 years old to 50 years old
Gender: Female

Phase

N/A

Groups that have been masked

Data analyser

Sample size

Target sample size: 30

Randomization (investigator's opinion)

Randomized

Randomization description

Randomization was by drawing lots. We wrote the titles of control and experimental on pieces of paper and asked the subjects to each pick one of them.

Blinding (investigator's opinion)

Single blinded

Blinding description

The data analysts will not be aware of the group allocation (group information will be provided to the analysts in the form of groups 1 and 2 for each participant with a code).

Placebo

Not used

Assignment

Parallel

Other design features

Secondary Ids

empty

Ethics committees

1

Ethics committee: Name of ethics committee

Research Ethics Committee, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan

Street address

Hamedan, Shahid Mustafa Ahmadi Roshan Street

City

hamedan

Province

Hamadan

Postal code

38695-65178
Approval date: 2025-10-05, 1404/07/13
Ethics committee reference number: IR.BASU.REC.1404.034

Health conditions studied

1

Description of health condition studied: Chronic nonspecific low back pain
ICD-10 code: M54.5
ICD-10 code description: Low back pain

Primary outcomes

1

Description: people's pain
Timepoint: Pre-test and post-test mean before the start of the first training session and one day after the end of the last training session.
Method of measurement: Visual Analogue scale questionnaire

Secondary outcomes

1

Description: Psychological indicators (quality of life, functional disability, fear of movement), static and dynamic balance.
Timepoint: Pre-test and post-test
Method of measurement: The following questionnaires will be used to assess psychological indicators: 1_ To measure quality of life, the questionnaire (SF-36). 2_ To measure functional disability, the questionnaire (oswestry). 3_ To measure fear of people, the questionnaire (tempa) will be used. Also, to assess static and dynamic balance, the pressure foot device (foot pressure scanner) will be used, which is an electronic system for recording and analyzing the distribution of foot pressure while standing and walking. This device identifies high pressure points on the foot while standing or walking.

Intervention groups

1

Description: Intervention group: Intervention group: Comprehensive core stability training protocol with Alexander technique, which in the present study was performed three sessions per week for eight weeks, each session lasting 60 minutes. Core stability exercises included the cat camel movement, hip bridge on the sole of the foot, Russian rotation of the foot on the floor, half-abdominal crunch, dead insect, bent-knee abdominal plank, and side-knee plank on the floor. The Alexander technique training protocol also included training in body awareness, natural breathing and muscle release, sitting and standing without additional pressure, conscious standing in position, slow walking, balance on one leg with feedback, weight transfer movements in a standing position, and coordination of trunk and upper limb movements, walking to the sides with sudden stops, combined exercises, and simulation of real situations.
Category: Treatment - Other

2

Description: Control group: At the beginning of the study, all tests were taken from the control group, and these people did not participate in any of the rehabilitation interventions, and they were also busy living their normal and routine lives while performing their daily activities during these 8 weeks. And after 8 weeks, a post-test was taken from them.
Category: Treatment - Other

Recruitment centers

1

Recruitment center: Name of recruitment center

Abu Ali Sina University

Full name of responsible person

Ali Yalfani

Street address

Hamedan, Shahid Mustafa Ahmadi Roshan Street

City

hamedan

Province

Hamadan

Postal code

38695-65178

Phone

+98 81 3140 2863

Fax

+98 81 3622 2715

Email

yalfani@basu.ac.ir

Web page address

https://www.basu.ac.ir

1

Sponsor: Name of organization / entity

Vice President for Research, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan

Full name of responsible person

Gholamhossein Majzoobi

Street address

Shahid Mustafa Ahmadi Roshan Garden, Bu Ali Sina University, Vice President for Research Affairs.

City

hamedan

Province

Hamadan

Postal code

38695-65178

Phone

+98 81 3140 2863

Fax

+98 81 3622 2715

Email

sakhai@basu.ac.ir

Web page address

https://www.basu.ac.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?: Yes
Title of funding source: Vice President for Research, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan
Proportion provided by this source: 100
Public or private sector: Public
Domestic or foreign origin: Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding: empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding: Academic

Person responsible for general inquiries

Contact: Name of organization / entity

Abu Ali Sina University

Full name of responsible person

Ali yalfani

Position

teacher

Latest degree

Ph.D.

Other areas of specialty/work

Rehabilitation management

Street address

Shahid Mustafa Ahmadi Roshan Street, Bu Ali Sina University

City

hamedan

Province

Hamadan

Postal code

38695-65178

Phone

+98 81 3140 2863

Fax

+98 81 3622 2715

Email

yalfani@basu.ac.ir

Web page address

https://www.basu.ac.ir

Person responsible for scientific inquiries

Contact: Name of organization / entity

Abu Ali Sina University

Full name of responsible person

Ali yalfani

Position

teacher

Latest degree

Ph.D.

Other areas of specialty/work

Rehabilitation management

Street address

Shahid Mustafa Ahmadi Roshan Street, Bu Ali Sina University

City

hamedan

Province

Hamadan

Postal code

38695-65178

Phone

+98 81 3140 2863

Fax

+98 81 3622 2715

Email

yalfani@basu.ac.ir

Web page address

https://www.basu.ac.ir

Person responsible for updating data

Contact: Name of organization / entity

Bu Ali Sina University

Full name of responsible person

Ali yalfani

Position

teacher

Latest degree

Ph.D.

Other areas of specialty/work

Rehabilitation management

Street address

Shahid Mustafa Ahmadi Roshan Street, Bu Ali Sina University

City

hamedan

Province

Hamadan

Postal code

38695-65178

Phone

+98 81 3140 6328

Fax

+98 81 3622 2715

Email

yalfani@basu.ac.ir

Web page address

https://www.basu.ac.ir

Sharing plan

Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD): Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Study Protocol: Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan: Not applicable
Informed Consent Form: Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report: Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Analytic Code: Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Data Dictionary: Not applicable
Title and more details about the data/document: The measured data files will be shared by the testers after the study is completed, if needed.
When the data will become available and for how long: The period begins one year after the publication of results and articles.
To whom data/document is available: Researchers and researchers whose field of work is similar to the present research and who are employed in universities.
Under which criteria data/document could be used: The data from the present study will only be made available to other researchers for comparison with future studies, and the use and analysis of the data is prohibited.
From where data/document is obtainable: Email address f.ghasemali@phe.basu.ac.ir
What processes are involved for a request to access data/document: A complete explanation of the research should be provided and the details of the use of the data should also be fully explained.
Comments

The effect of core stability exercises combined with the Alexander technique on balance, psychological indicators, and pain in women with chronic nonspecific low back pain.