Exercising with the Pilates method may be a beneficial treatment to improve balance and decrease the number of falls. To ascertain this, our search in 7 databases included 15 randomized controlled trials in which Pilates was the primary intervention. Participants were over 60 years of age; the outcomes were related to balance and falls. The Cochrane tool and PEDro scale were used to assess risk of bias and quality of individual studies. Current evidence supported the view that exercising with the Pilates method improves the balance of older adults with a high practical effect in terms of the dynamic (SMD = 0.75 [0.17;1.32]), static (SMD = 1.33 [0.53;2.13]), and overall balance (SMD = 0.96[0.00;1.91]). Pilates also produced greater improvements with a moderate effect in terms of the dynamic (SMD = 0.37[-0.36;1.11]) and overall balance (SMD = 0.58[0.19;0.96]) compared to other training approaches oriented to the same end. Literature evaluating the effects on falls is scarce, and results were not conclusive.

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Introduction More than half of adult patients with severe haemophilia (PWH) suffer pain daily, with chronic pain (CP) in more than 15% of cases, thereby reducing their quality of life (QoL). However, there are no evidence‐based therapeutic guidelines for pain management. Aim To evaluate the effectiveness of a combined protocol based on psychology and physiotherapy in the improvement of CP self‐efficacy in PWH with CP. Secondary outcomes are changes in QoL, emotional status, pain and kinesiophobia. Methods In this prospective controlled trial study, recruited patients were allocated either to an experimental group (EG, n = 10) or to a control group (CG, n = 9). EG received interventions over four months: one cognitive‐behavioural therapy (CBT) session per month and three home exercise sessions per week. Self‐efficacy (Chronic Pain Self‐Efficacy Scale), QoL (A36 Hemophilia‐QoL), emotional status (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Rosenberg's Self‐esteem Scale), pain (Visual Analogue Scale) and kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia) were assessed at three time points (Week 0, Month 4 and Month 7). The intervention effects were determined with mixed 2‐factor ANOVAs. Results The EG showed a significant improvement (p < .05) in the control of symptoms and pain management scores on the Self‐Efficacy Scale, QoL, self‐esteem emotional status, pain and kinesiophobia. The intervention effects remained significant (p < .05) over time for pain management, QoL, pain and kinesiophobia. Conclusion The non‐pharmacological treatment applied based on CBT and physiotherapy showed to be effective in improving CP self‐efficacy, QoL and emotional status, while reducing pain and kinesiophobia in PWH with CP.

The Feldenkrais Method (FM) is based on the learning of alternative movement patterns, carried out in an active and conscious way, which may have therapeutic effects. The objective of this systematic review is to identify the populations and conditions for which the FM can be used in physiotherapy and to determine the intervention modalities. Research in PubMed, Cochrane and PEDro databases was performed. The PEDro scale was employed to assess the methodological quality. Meta-analyses (MA) were performed whenever populations and outcome measures were comparable in at least two studies. Sixteen studies were included. In elderly people, in three of the four selected trials, the FM group significantly improved gait, balance, mobility and quality of life. The MA showed significant differences between interventions in the Timed-Up-and-Go test [Cohen’s d = −1.14, 95% CI (−1.78, −0.49), p = 0.0006]. FM significantly improved pain, functional balance, and perceived exertion in three trials performed on subjects with cervical, dorsal, or shoulder pain. FM demonstrated improvements in pain, disability, quality of life and interoceptive awareness in the three trials performed in subjects with chronic low back pain. In multiple sclerosis, an improvement in functional capacity was observed in the two selected studies. The MA showed no significant differences between groups in the Function (p = 0.97) and Control (p = 0.82) dimensions of the Multiple Sclerosis Self-Efficacy Scale. In Parkinson’s disease, two studies showed significant effects on quality of life and functional tests. In conclusion, evidence shows that FM has therapeutic effects comparable to other physiotherapy techniques in patients with spine pain. In addition, improvements in mobility and balance were seen in the elderly and people with neurodegenerative diseases.

Objective The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) includes determining the effects of core training alone or combined with conventional therapy on trunk function, balance, and gait in stroke patients; analysing these effects considering the stroke stage and the core training type; establishing the methodological quality of the studies published to date; and knowing the best dosage and type of exercise these aspects. Data source Cochrane Library, Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Science Direct were searched from inception to January 2022. Review method A review and meta-analysis of RCTs about core intervention effects on trunk function, balance, and gait in stroke patients was carried out following the Preferred Items for Reporting in Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The Cochrane Collaboration tool was used to assess the risk of bias and internal validity of the included studies. Results Twenty-nine studies were included (1030 stroke patients). The mean age of the participants was 58.46 ± 9.89 years, and the average time since the stroke incident was 308.64 ± 175.52 days. The meta-analysis results showed significant improvements in core interventions for trunk function ( P ≤ 0.008) and balance ( P < 0.00001) but not for gait performance ( P = 0.11 in chronic and P = 0.06 in pooled cases). In relation to the differential meta-analysis between training performed on stable and unstable surfaces, no significant differences were found in trunk function ( P = 0.06) or balance measures ( P = 0.05). Conclusion Core training improves trunk function and balance in acute and chronic patients, but no changes were found in gait performance.