Effects of Isotonic Core Exercise with Weight Loss on Low Back Pain, Core Strength and Balance in Obese Middle-Aged Women

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of concurrent core exercises and weight loss on lower back pain, core muscle strength, and balance in middle-aged obese women.METHODS: Eighteen middle-aged obese women were randomly assigned to the core exercise with weight loss (CE+WL, n=6), core exercise (CE, n=6), and control (CON, n=6) groups. Moreover, CE was conducted for 60 minutes, three times a week for 8 weeks, with a weight loss goal of approximately 0.5-1 kg per week. All participants underwent measurements of body composition (weight, body mass index, percentage body fat, muscle mass, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), low back pain (visual analogue scale [VAS]), core muscle strength (hip flexor), and balance (sensory organization, reaction time, and motor control)) before the experiment, at 4 and 8 weeks.RESULTS: A significant decrease in WHR was observed at 4 and 8 weeks of exercise compared to that before exercise in both the CE+WL and CE groups (p<.05). Additionally, VAS scores significantly decreased at 4 and 8 weeks compared to those before exercise in the CE+WL group and a decrease was observed at 8 weeks in the CE group (p<.05). Hip flexor strength significantly increased at 8 weeks of exercise compared to that before exercise in the CE+WL group (p<.05). Furthermore, hip flexor strength also significantly increased at 4 and 8 weeks in the CE group (p<.05). Sensory organization significantly increased at C2 after 8 weeks of exercise compared with that before exercise in the CE+WL group (p<.05).CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested that combining CE with WL concurrently leads to improvements in WHR, back pain, hip flexor strength, and sensory organization in middle-aged obese women.