This meta-analysis reviewed 16 randomized controlled trials comparing the effectiveness of motor control exercises (MCE) to other treatments for chronic or recurrent low back pain. The analysis found that MCE was superior to general exercise in reducing both disability in the short, intermediate, and long term, and pain in the short and intermediate term. MCE was also superior to minimal interventions like advice or placebo for both pain and disability outcomes at all time periods. Compared to spinal manual therapy, MCE demonstrated superior results for reducing disability but not pain. The studies varied in quality but provided evidence that MCE can better improve pain and disability for low back pain over the short to long term compared to other common treatments.