Background and Aim: Mothers of children with cerebral palsy have a significantly higher prevalence rate of musculoskeletal pain than the mothers of normal children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of eight weeks of core stability exercises on pain and functional disability in the mothers of children with cerebral palsy.

Materials and Methods: In this semi experimental study which was done in Isfahan, 30 mothers of children with cerebral palsy (age of children between 6 and 18 years), who had chronic non-specific low back pain were selected by convenience sampling method. They were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Each group included 15 subjects. Experimental group performed core stabilization exercises for 8 weeks. The level of pain and functional disability were measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) and   Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire respectively before and after eight weeks of exercise program. Data were analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA (P = 0. 05).

Results: Our findings showed significant effect of core stabilization exercises on the pain (P=0.001) and functional disability (P=0.001).

Conclusion: Based on current results, core stabilization exercise program reduces pain and improves functional disability in mothers of children with cerebral palsy. Considering the positive effect of these exercises on pain and functional disability, this program could be recommended for people with similar problems.

Keywords: Core stabilization exercises, Nonspecific chronic low back pain, Cerebral palsy.

Received: Dec 7, 2015      Accepted: May 8, 2016