All the exercises involve mobility, flexibility and muscle strengthening exercises. Specifically, these exercises included self-awareness of the lumbo-pelvic-femoral complex and multidirectional mobility of the lumbar spine. We gradually integrated aerobic exercises and muscle strengthening of the lower limbs, trunk and spine extensors with bodyweight exercises.

change at 6 weeks from baseline in the strength of the flexor muscles of the spine (peak torque at 60°/s and 120°/s concentric)

The patient was lying in the supine position with the contralateral lower limb extended on the table. The therapist then flexed the hip at 90°, brought the knee to extension until their limit (according to the sensations of the patient). An inclinometer was placed on the anterior tibial tuberosity to measure the angle (in degrees) of the popliteal between the tibia and the femur on both legs.

the modified Thomas' test was used to measure flexibility of the hip flexors, which included the iliopsoas muscle group. The patient laid on their back, with both legs hanging freely at the edge of the table. First, they achieved a maximum flexion of both knees using both arms to ensure that the lumbar spine is flexed and flat on the table to avoid an anterior tilt of the pelvis. The patient then lowered the tested limb toward the table, whilst the contralateral hip and knee was held in maximal flexion to stabilize the pelvis and flatten out the lumbar lordosis. Once the final position was reached, the inclinometer was placed along the midline of the femur, between the greater trochanter and the lateral femoral condyles (in degrees). The length of the iliopsoas was measured by the angle of the hip flexion.

Ely's test heal-buttock distance was used to measure the flexibility of the quadriceps. The patient laid in prone position. The therapist stood next to the patient, at the side of the leg that is tested. The patient's knee was flexed to bring their heel as close as possible to their buttock. One hand was on the lower back, the other holding the leg at the heel. The closest distance between the heel and the buttock (in cm) was measured. The test is done on both sides for comparison.

Dual inclinometer technique was used to assess spinal. Lumbar range of motion in flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion.

Dual inclinometer technique was used to assess spinal. Lumbar range of motion in flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion.

Dual inclinometer technique was used to assess spinal. Lumbar range of motion in flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion.

Shirado-Ito test (spinal flexors), Sorensen test (Extensors of the spine), Killy test.

A visual analogue pain scale graded from 0 to 10 was used to quantify the amount of pain that a patient feels from none (0) to an extreme amount of pain (10)

is a self-reported questionnaire which specifically focuses on how a patient's fear avoidance beliefs about physical activity and work may affect and contribute to their low back pain and resulting disability. Sixteen questions scaled from 0 to 6 (higher the score indicates fear avoidance behaviors). The Physical Activity subscale (FABQ-PA) range from 0 to 24 and the Work subscale (FABQ-W) range from 0 to 42.

is a self-completed questionnaire containing ten topics concerning intensity of pain, lifting, ability to care for oneself, ability to walk, ability to sit, sexual function, ability to stand, social life, sleep quality, and ability to travel. Each topic category was followed by 6 statements describing different potential scenarios in the patient's life relating to the topic. The patient checked the statement which most closely resembled their situation. Each question was scored on a scale of 0-5 with the first statement being zero and indicating the least amount of disability and the last statement is scored 5 indicating most severe disability. The scores for all questions answered are summed, then multiplied by two to obtain the index (range 0 to 100). Zero is equated with no disability and 100 is the maximum disability possible.