Clinical Research Directory

Effect of Coordinated Locomotor Training on Lumbopelvic Stability and Pain in Runners With Mechanical Low Back Pain

Mechanical low back pain is a common problem among novice runners, often caused by poor control of the lumbopelvic region and weak core stability. Coordinated Locomotor Training is a neuromotor exercise approach that improves the coordination of arm and leg movements while activating trunk muscles. This study aims to determine whether Coordinated Locomotor Training improves lumbopelvic stability and reduces pain-related limitations in runners with mechanical low back pain compared to plyometric training. The study is a randomized controlled trial that will enroll 28 novice runners from universities in Faisalabad, Pakistan. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive Coordinated Locomotor Training for 60 minutes per session, twice weekly, for 8 weeks. The other group will receive plyometric training for the same duration and frequency. Lumbopelvic stability will be measured using a pelvic inclinometer and a flexible ruler. Pain levels will be measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. Measurements will be taken before and after the 8-week intervention period. The investigators hypothesize that Coordinated Locomotor Training will lead to greater improvements in lumbopelvic stability and greater reductions in pain compared to plyometric training.

Proprioceptive, Fear-related and Inflammatory Factors in the Persistence of Pregnancy-related Lumbopelvic Pain.

Pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain (PLPP) affects 50-90% of pregnant women and is often dismissed as a normal part of pregnancy. However, the long-term consequences can be dramatic. Up to 21% of women with PLPP still have pain three years postpartum, and 10% experience disability, poorer quality of life, and lower ability to work 11 years after delivery. Because the multifactorial etiology of PLPP is unclear, prevention and treatment fall short. Previous studies on the causes of PLPP focused on impairments in motor output but ignored that impairments in sensory input (e.g., proprioception, the primary expertise of our research group) often precede motor output problems. Moreover, though psychological factors such as fear (of movement) are known to affect PLPP, their predictive role in PLPP remains understudied. Finally, the role of systemic inflammation in PLPP has yet to be examined, despite recent studies demonstrating its role in the chronification of lumbopelvic pain in the general population. This prospective cohort study aims to identify new modifiable predictors for the onset of PLPP during pregnancy and its persistence postpartum. The investigators will compare sensory (proprioception, body perception), fear-related, and inflammatory factors between women with and without PLPP and determine their predictive role in the onset and persistence of PLPP. The results will increase our understanding of the multifactorial etiology of PLPP and help optimize prevention and treatment.

Effects of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercises During Pregnancy.

Lumbopelvic pain (LPP) during pregnancy is defined as pregnancy-related low back, or pelvic girdle pain. Pregnancy is a significant time for sleep disruptions as well.PMR involves systematically tensing and relaxing different muscle groups in the body, starting from the feet or hands and progressing through the body. This study aims to evaluate the impact of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) exercises on the alleviation of low back pain and sleeplessness in pregnant women in their pregnancy.