An interventional study of McGill Stabilization Exercises and Pilates in Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain, sponsored by University of Management and Technology Lahore. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Pakistan. Open to participants aged 30 Years to 50 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-29.
Sponsored by University of Management and Technology Lahore · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effects of McGill Stabilization Exercises and Pilates on pain, muscle thickness, lumbar flexibility, and disability in adults aged 30-50 years with chronic non-specific low back pain.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Participants will:
Chronic non-specific low back pain is a common musculoskeletal condition that can affect daily activities, physical function, and quality of life. Exercise-based rehabilitation is frequently used to manage this condition. McGill Stabilization Exercises focus on improving trunk stability and muscular endurance, while Pilates emphasizes controlled movement, core muscle activation, and postural control.
Both approaches may help reduce pain and disability and improve lumbar flexibility and abdominal muscle function. However, their comparative effects on these outcomes in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain require further investigation.
This study will compare McGill Stabilization Exercises and Pilates to evaluate their effects on pain intensity, disability, lumbar flexibility, and transversus abdominis muscle thickness. The findings may help inform physiotherapy treatment decisions and support the selection of appropriate exercise-based rehabilitation strategies for patients with chronic non-specific low back pain.
2,922 studies on the registry are indexed under Low Back Pain; 580 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 40 is below the median of 60 across 2,364 interventional studies indexed under Low Back Pain.
Browse Low Back Pain studies →University of Management and Technology Lahore is the lead sponsor of 39 studies on the registry; 20 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
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Both Male and Female Age 30 to 50 years Diagnosed CNLBP patients with pain for ≥ 3 Months Pain intensity 3 to 6 points on the 10-point pain scale(NPRS) Pain localized between 12th Rib and gluteal fold with no history of radiation to the lower limbs
Exclusion Criteria:
History of trauma or fractures of the spine Diagnosed spine osteoarthritis, disc herniation, or spondylolisthesis Low back pain due to systemic illness (e.g. visceral, appendicitis, abdominal and pelvic surgeries) Previous spinal surgery Nerve root symptoms (e.g. sciatica and cauda equine syndrome) Pregnancy. Received Pilates or physiotherapy treatment in the last 3 months.
Participants will receive a 45-minute treatment session consisting of 20 minutes of McGill stabilization exercises and 25 minutes of conventional physiotherapy. The exercise programme will begin with a warm-up comprising five exercises: back awareness, pelvic tilts, lumbar rotation, arm movements, and whole-body movements in standing. Participants will perform five sets of each exercise during the second week, with the number of sets progressively increased to ten by the fourth week.
Other: McGill Stabilization Exercises
minutes, twice weekly for six weeks, in small groups of two to three. Before starting the intervention, participants attended an introductory session to learn the basic Pilates exercises and principles, including breathing, concentration, centering, control, precision, and rhythm. They were instructed to apply these principles throughout each session. The physiotherapist demonstrated each exercise and supervised its performance, providing verbal instructions and corrective feedback when necessary. Exercise intensity was progressively advanced after three weeks based on participants' performance and ability to maintain proper Pilates technique. Progression included modifying body positions and introducing an exercise ball and resistance band. The number of repetitions was also increased, reaching 20 repetitions by the fourth week.
Other: Pilates
Participants will receive a 45-minute treatment session consisting of 20 minutes of McGill stabilization exercises and 25 minutes of conventional physiotherapy. The exercise programme will begin with a warm-up comprising five exercises: back awareness, pelvic tilts, lumbar rotation, arm movements, and whole-body movements in standing. Participants will perform five sets of each exercise during the second week, with the number of sets progressively increased to ten by the fourth week.
After baseline assessments, participants will underwent supervised Pilates sessions lasting approximately 60 minutes, twice weekly for six weeks, in small groups of two to three. Exercise intensity was progressively advanced after three weeks based on participants' performance and ability to maintain proper Pilates technique. Progression included modifying body positions and introducing an exercise ball and resistance band. The number of repetitions was also increased, reaching 20 repetitions by the fourth week.
Numeric pain Rating Scale
The 11-point Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is a commonly used tool for assessing the intensity of pain. Participants are asked to rate their pain on a scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 represents the worst possible pain. Participants rate the intensity of pain experienced on the day of assessment.
Time frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks
Modified Modified Schober Test (MMST)
The Modified Modified Schober Test (MMST) is a clinical measurement tool used to assess lumbar spine flexibility and mobility. The measurement is performed with the participant standing upright. The examiner palpates the lower border of the posterior superior iliac spines (PSIS), marks the identified point, and draws a horizontal line across the skin through both PSIS landmarks and the midline of the lumbar spine. A second horizontal mark is made 15 cm above the first mark using a measuring tape. The participant is then instructed to bend forward as far as comfortably possible, keeping the knees extended and avoiding painful movement. The examiner measures the distance between the two marks in the upright and forward-flexed positions. The difference between these measurements indicates lumbar flexion mobility, with a greater increase in distance suggesting greater lumbar flexibility. An increase of less than 5 cm is considered indicative of restricted lumbar mobility.
Time frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks
Modified Oswestry Disability Index
Disability will be assessed using the Modified Oswestry Disability Index (MODI), a modified version of the original Oswestry Disability Index. In this version, the section on sexual activity is replaced with questions related to employment and homemaking abilities, as the sexual activity section is frequently left unanswered. The MODI score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater disability. Scores are classified as minimal disability (0-20), moderate disability (21-40), severe disability (41-60), crippling disability (61-80), and bed-bound disability (81-100).
Time frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks
MSK Ultrasound
Musculoskeletal ultrasonography will be used to assess transversus abdominis (TrA) muscle thickness using an ultrasound device equipped with a high-frequency linear array transducer (7.5-14 MHz). The probe will be positioned perpendicular to the muscle at the midpoint of the line connecting the iliac crest to the inferior angle of the last rib. Muscle thickness will be measured using a perpendicular caliper placed between the superficial and deep hyperechoic fascial borders. Three measurements will be obtained, and their average will be used for statistical analysis.
Time frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks
Plan to share: Yes — The results data collected , de-identified individual participant data will be shared.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Statistical analysis plan, Informed consent form
Time frame: 6 months after the publication of the manuscript.
Access criteria: The data can be requested from the corresponding author.
Start is estimated for Oct 2026; primary completion for Dec 2026, 2 months later.
Of 1,231 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Low Back Pain, half reached primary completion within 11 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 26. This study's planned 2 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 1,286 studies reached it within 11 months; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 27.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University of Management and Technology Lahore