Exercises targeted at the hip to improve non-specific low back pain

Participants to participate in a six week home exercise programme dependent on group randomly assigned; hip stretching, hip strengthening and hip rotation only groups. The hip stretching and hip strengthening groups perform the rotation exercises in addition to the stretching and strengthening exercises. Arm 1: In the stretching group, exercises focused on a variety of stretches through a large range of hip positions aimed at stretching the entire hip capsule, ligaments and surrounding musculature (Hewitt, RRGlisson, Guilak, & Vail, 2002; Hidaka et al., 2009; Martin et al., 2008; Walker, 2007). Six stretches in addition to the two rotation exercises (eight in total) were performed. The stretches were (1) hip external rotation in crook lying, (2) hip flexion and abduction in crook lying (3) lunge hip flexor stretch (4) hip external rotation, flexion and abduction in sitting (5) standing long groin stretch and, (6) sitting short groin stretch. Stretching exercises were done once a day, 5 times a week, for six weeks. Stretches were held for 30 sec and repeated 3 times. Arm 2: In the strengthening group, exercises focused on strengthening the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus and short hip external rotators muscles, which were progressed throughout the intervention period. This was achieved by increasing repetitions, increasing difficulty of exercises or addition of theraband (Bolga & Uhl, 2005; Distefano, Blackburn, Marshall, & Padua, 2009; Ekstrom, Donatelli, & Carp, 2007; Snyder, Earl, O’Connor, & Ebersole, 2009). Strengthening exercises were done once a day, 3 times a week, for six weeks. Weeks one and two exercises consisted of (1) clams, (2) prone hip external rotation with theraband, (3) side-lying hip abduction, (4) quadruped hip extension, and (5) single leg stand. Weeks three and four exercises consisted of (1) quadruped hip extension, (2) quadruped hip abduction/ external rotation, (3) single leg bridge, (4) single leg squats, (5) lateral step exercise, and (6) standing hip rotation exercise. Weeks five and six exercises consisted of (1) quadruped hip extension, (2) quadruped hip abduction/ external rotation, (3) single leg squats, (4) single leg bridge, (5) lateral step exercise, and (6) standing hip rotation exercise with theraband. Exercises were performed 10 to 15 reps, 2 to 3 sets.