Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of a Pilates exercise program compared with home-based exercises in individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain.
DESIGN: A randomised controlled trial with a six-month follow-up.
SETTING: Rehabilitation clinic.
PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and forty-five individuals (18-50 years of age) with low back pain for ≥ 12 consecutive weeks were enrolled and randomly allocated to either Pilates ( n = 72) or home-based exercise groups ( n = 73).
INTERVENTIONS: Method Pilates (Mat Pilates exercises using accessories) versus home-based exercise (postural exercises, muscle stretching and strengthening, and spine stabilisation/mobilisation), twice a week, for 6 weeks.
MAIN MEASURES: Assessments were performed at baseline, post-intervention, and six months follow-up. Outcomes were pain intensity, disability, and health-related quality of life.
RESULTS: At post-intervention, the Pilates group had significantly lower pain intensity (mean difference = -1.14; 95% CI -2.05; -0.23), less disability (mean difference = -6.7; 95% CI -11.3; -2.0), and higher health-related quality of life (mean difference = 0.102; 95% CI 0.054; 0151) compared to the home-based exercise group. At follow-up, the Pilates group had a significantly higher health-related quality of life (mean difference = 0.055; 95% CI 0.003; 0.106) compared with the home-based exercise group but there were no significant differences in pain and disability. A significant overall effect of Pilates compared to home-based exercise was found for disability (mean difference = -4.4; 95% CI -7.6; -1.1), and health-related quality of life (mean difference = 0.049; 95% CI 0.022; 0.076), but not for pain.
CONCLUSION: Although Pilates was significantly superior to home exercise for pain and disability, the differences were not considered clinically relevant. However, Pilates did provide significant and clinically relevant differences in utility.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2692155241277041 |
| Journal | Clinical Rehabilitation |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 13 Sept 2024 |
Funding
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was supported by: the Federal District Research Support Foundation [process n. 00193-001711/2017]. This study was also financed in part by Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (finance code 001), Doctoral Program in Physical Education, University of Bras\u00EDlia, and University of Bras\u00EDlia/Dean of Research and Innovation. The funding agencies have no role in the design and implementation of the study or in the data analysis and presentation of the results.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Dean of Research and Innovation | |
| Universidade de Brasília | |
| Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior | |
| Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Distrito Federal | 00193-001711/2017 |
Keywords
- low back pain
- Physical therapy
- Exercise therapy