Results of a Pilates exercise program in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Clinical rehabilitation Vol. 31; no. 6; p. 753
• Main Authors: Valenza, M C, Rodríguez-Torres, J, Cabrera-Martos, I, Díaz-Pelegrina, A, Aguilar-Ferrándiz, M E, Castellote-Caballero, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.06.2017
• Subjects: Adult; Chronic Pain - diagnosis; Chronic Pain - psychology; Chronic Pain - rehabilitation; Disability Evaluation; Exercise Movement Techniques - methods; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Low Back Pain - diagnosis; Low Back Pain - psychology; Low Back Pain - rehabilitation; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Satisfaction - statistics & numerical data; Patient Selection; Quality of Life; Reference Values; Risk Assessment; Task Performance and Analysis; Treatment Outcome; chronic pain; Pilates; disability evaluation; exercise movement techniques; low back pain
• ISSN: 1477-0873
• DOI: 10.1177/0269215516651978

To investigate the effects of a Pilates exercise program on disability, pain, lumbar mobility, flexibility and balance in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. Randomized controlled trial. University laboratory. A total of 54 patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. Patients were randomly allocated to an experimental group ( n=27) included in a Pilates exercise program or to a control group ( n=27) receiving information in a form of a leaflet. Disability (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire and Oswestry Disability Index), current, average and pain at it least and at its worst (Visual Analogue Scales), lumbar mobility (modified Shober test), flexibility (finger-to-floor test) and balance (single limb stance test) were measured at baseline and after the intervention. A between-group analysis showed significant differences in the intervention group compared to the control group for both disability scores, the Rolland-Morris questionnaire (mean change±standard deviation of 5.31±3.37 and 2.40±6.78 respectively and between-groups mean difference of 3.2 ± 4.12, p=0.003) and the Oswestry Disability Index ( p<0.001), current pain ( p=0.002) and pain at it least ( p=0.033), flexibility (0.032) and balance (0.043). An 8-week Pilates exercise program is effective in improving disability, pain, flexibility and balance in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain.