ISSN 2320-5407 International Journal of Advanced Research (2016), Volume 4, Issue 2, 853-863 853 Journal homepage: http://www.journalijar.com INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED RESEARCH RESEARCH ARTICLE CORE STABILITY PROGRAM VERSUS INTENSIVE EXERCISES AFTER LUMBAR DISCECTOMY. Lilian Albert Zaky. Department of Physical Therapy for Musculoskeletal Disorders and their surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University Manuscript Info Abstract Manuscript History: Received: 14 December 2015 Final Accepted: 19 January 2016 Published Online: February 2016 Key words: Lumbar Discectomy, core stability, intensive exercises, functional disability, Spinal Mouse, Modified Oswestry Scale. *Corresponding Author Lilian Albert Zaky. lilianazaki@gmail.com Introduction: Discectomy is a surgical technique used for treatment of lumbar disc herniation. After the surgery; the patient suffers from back pain and limitation of motion which affect his functional ability. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare between the effect of core stability program and the effect of a intensive exercises on the L4-5 segmental lumbar flexion and the functional disability in patients with lumbar discectomy. Methods: Thirty male patients with L4-L5 open discectomy were divided on two groups; group (A) received core stability program, while group (B) received a intensive exercises. Treatment was applied for 12 sessions. Results: The results of this study revealed a significant difference of both variables in each of the groups, after treatment. There was also a significant difference of both variables between group (A) and group (B) after treatment. The improvements after core stability program were significantly more than after the intensive exercises. Conclusion: From the obtained results of the study, it can be concluded that L4-5 segmental lumbar flexion improved and the functional disability reduced after receiving core stability program and after receiving intensive exercises, but the patients who received the core stability improved more than patients who received the intensive exercises. . Copy Right, IJAR, 2016,. All rights reserved. Introduction:- Back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders. Back pain and its associated problems such as muscle spasm, limitation of motion and altered functional ability can significantly affect an individual's quality of life. Pain may indicate a specific pathology as lumbar disc prolapse or occurs after back surgery. This pain in turn alters the segmental motion as well as the total motion of the lumbar spine (Kulig et al., 2007). Lumbosacral radicular syndrome is a condition commonly caused by lumbar disc prolapse, it is characterized by radiating pain to the area of buttocks or legs due to tension on one or more lumbosacral nerve roots by the prolapsed or herniated disc (Ostelo et al., 2009). Discectomy is a surgical technique used for treatment of lumbar disc herniation, it is indicated if there is progression of the neurological deficits of the patient or failure of using the conservative treatment, it is performed by many techniques, one of them is open discectomy. After the surgery; the patient suffers from back pain and limitation of motion which affect his functional ability (Celik et al., 2008). Clinical subjective methods are used to evaluate the segmental motion as manual application of a posterior to anterior force on the vertebral spinous processes, or palpation of movement between spinous processes during flexion-extension of the trunk. In both cases; the amount of motion, or resistance to force is assessed using