Effects of an 8-Week Combined Exercise Program on Pain, Functional Disability, and Weight Distribution Index in Men with Lumbar Disc Herniation

OBJECTIVES This study investigated the effects of an 8-week combined exercise program on pain, functional disability, and weight distribution index in men with lumbar disc herniation.METHODS This study retrospectively analyzed records of twenty men aged 30-39 years with lumbar disc herniation at an exercise center, classified by their existing program rather than randomly assigned: a combined exercise group (CEG, n = 10) or a low-intensity control exercise group (CG, n = 10). The CEG performed lumbar extension strengthening, core stabilization, and balance exercises; the CG performed stretching, bracing, and low-intensity core exercises. Both trained three times weekly for eight weeks. Pain, functional disability, and weight distribution were assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Weight Distribution Index (WDI). Data were analyzed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA.RESULTS Pain significantly decreased over time in both groups (<i>F</i>(1,18) = 325.918, <i>p</i> < 0.001), with a significant group × time interaction (<i>F</i>(1,18) = 7.230, <i>p</i> = 0.015), indicating greater improvement in the CEG. Functional disability (<i>F</i>(1,18) = 191.973, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and WDI (<i>F</i>(1,18) = 13.549, <i>p</i> < 0.01) also improved significantly over time in both groups, but neither showed a significant group × time interaction (<i>F</i>(1,18) = 1.237, <i>p</i> = 0.281 and <i>F</i>(1,18) = 2.041, <i>p</i> = 0.170, respectively).CONCLUSIONS An 8-week combined exercise program produced greater pain reduction than a low-intensity control exercise program in men with lumbar disc herniation. Although functional disability and weight distribution index improved in both groups, no significant between-group differences were observed. These findings suggest that combined exercise may contribute to improvements in these outcomes; however, given the small sample size and non-randomized design, larger randomized studies are required to confirm its independent effects