Good muscle control the key to preventing back pain

Researchers in Australia carried out a systematic review of the literature which included 14 trials - seven compared motor control exercise with minimal intervention or evaluated it as a supplement to another treatment - four compared motor control exercise with manual therapy - five compared motor control exercise with another form of exercise and one compared motor control exercise with lumbar fusion surgery.

By learning to control their trunk muscles using motor control exercises called specific stabilisation exercises, along with other forms of therapy, patients managed to significantly reduce pain and disability. These patients were also more able to be generally physically active and experienced other positive effects over a period of time than those who received other treatments.

The exercise system focuses on regaining control of the trunk muscles, also known as the transversus abdominis and multifidus, which support and control the spine - research has shown that patients with low back pain are unable to properly control these muscles.

The motor control exercise programme teaches patients how to isolate and 'switch on' these muscles and then incorporate these movements into their normal activities.

Patients need to work with a therapist who understands the motor control system and who can identify which specific trunk muscles need stabilising in specific patients. Sound very much like pilates training.