OBJECTIVES: Aim of the study was to assess lumbar spine issues in rhythmic gymnasts, explore the underlying causes of pain, and develop a preventive exercise program.

METHODS: Our research was a longitudinal, quantitative, prospective study. A total of 36 female rhythmic gymnasts participated in our study, with experimental group (n=18) who participated in the 12-week exercise program, control group (n=18). Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), trunk muscle strength was measured with the Kraus-Weber-, Core-, and Side-plank tests. To determine static balance the Flamingo test, for dynamic balance the Y-balance test was used. The tests were conducted before and after the program.

RESULTS: The program shows a significant improvement in pain on the VAS scale in the experimental group (p<0.001). The experimental group value was 14.50+12.24 and improved to 6.61+8.73 while the control group changed from 23.33+12.31 to 18.22+13.34. The trunk muscle strength tests demonstrated significant improvements in the Kraus-Weber test's "A" part (p<0.001), the Core test resulted significant improvement (p<0.001) and in the Side-plank test also significant improvement occurred on both the sides for the experimental group (p<0.001). In the evaluation of the Flamingo test significant improvement was observed in the right leg for the experimental group (p=0.02). In the dynamic balance test significant improvements in multiple directions were found in both the experimental and control groups after 12 weeks. There was significant improvement in forward-right side measurement (p=0.05) and left-back-left side measurement (p=0.02) in the experimental group. In the control grou, significant differences occurred in forward-left side measurement (p=0.03), right-back-right side measurement (p=0.005), right-back-left side measurement (p=0.004), left-back-right side measurement (p=0.004), and left-back-left side measurement (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The exercise program has proven to be effective in the development of balance and core muscle strength, as well as in its positive impact on pain.