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Description
Although exercise-based interventions are widely used, conventional exercise programmes are often used more than flexibility exercise programmes. However, limited research exists comparing the effectiveness of these exercise programmes, especially among students with back pain. Hence, the study investigates the effects of conventional versus flexibility exercise training programmes on the pain and mobility outcomes of university students with back pain.
The pretest-posttest experimental research design study was conducted with 14 participants (mean age = 21.29 ± 0.99), evenly split between 7 experimental and 7 control groups. The Numeric Pain Rating Scale, McGill Pain Questionnaire, Sit-and-Reach Test, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, Static Flexibility Test – Trunk and Neck, and Trunk and Standing Stork Test were used for data collection.
In the flexibility group, there was significant decrease in the pre- and post-values of pain level (mean difference = 4.00, % change = -57.1, p < .001), pain quality (mean difference = 8.85, % change = -70.5, p = .003), disability (mean difference = 4.14, % change = -60.5, p = .002), as well as significant increase in the hip and trunk flexibility (mean difference = -7.97, % change = +821.6, p = .005), lower back and hamstring flexibility (mean difference = -11.17, % change = +561, p = .001), trunk and neck flexibility (mean difference = -2.41, % change = +22.1, p < .001). In the conventional group, there were also significant decreases in the pre- and post-values of pain level, pain quality, and disability, as well as a significant increase in the hip and trunk flexibility, lower back and hamstring flexibility, and balance for the right leg, which also increased significantly. Although the conventional exercise programme showed improvements in pain level, pain quality, and disability, the flexibility exercise programme showed more improvements in hip and trunk flexibility, lower back and hamstring flexibility, and trunk and neck flexibility among university students with low back pain. Flexibility exercise training is a low-cost, non-pharmacological intervention that should be integrated into university wellness programmes, with future research exploring long-term and combined approaches.