OBJECTIVES: Chronic back pain is the most common cause of incapacity for work. The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness for activating the function of the deep stabilization system (DSS) in patients with chronic low back pain. METHODS: The effectiveness of three different methods was compared: Pilates method (PM), dynamic neuromuscular stabilization and balance aids on deep stabilization system function and pain perception in the lumbar spine. The group consisted of 75 patients. RESULTS: The results show differences in the effectiveness of the methods depending on the observed characteristics. The least significant differences were observed when comparing the Pilates method to balance aids. No statistically significant difference was observed in four out of five areas. The only area where a statistically significant effect of the exercise method got recorded was the intra-abdominal pressure test (p < 0.05). The lowest change was recorded in the measured values using the intra-abdominal pressure test at PM, and the highest change was recorded in Thomayer's values at dynamic neuromuscular stabilization. CONCLUSION: By comparing the three methods it was noted that each of them has its own positive reaction to the pain and the muscular apparatus. The most appropriate method to affect DSS function appears the dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) concept, where was the most significant improvement in DSS activation and the most significant reduction in chronic low back pain.

Department of Physiotherapy Faculty of Nursing and Professional Health Studies Slovak Medical University in Bratislava Bratislava Slovak Republic

Faculty of Health Sciences University of Ss Cyril and Methodius in Trnava Trnava Slovak Republic

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