Effects of Pilates Exercises on the Social Physical Concern of Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Prior to exercise and at the end of the 12 th week, the patient's weight, grip strength of the hands, back strength, body fat ratio, and BMI were measured. Before-and after-exercise measurements were compared. The patient pain level was determined using the visual analog scale (VAS). Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to define the depression level of patients. SPC level of patients was obtained by Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS). The correlations between SPC scores and anthropometric values and pain and depression levels were evaluated. Results: Pilates exercises significantly improved the weight, BMI, body fat ratio and SPC and pain level of the patients. No statistically significant change was found for grip strength of either hand or back strength. A statistically significant correlation was found between SPC scores and the body fat ratio, weight, BMI, and pain and depression scores of patients before and after the exercise program. Conclusion: A 12-week Pilates program had positive effects on anthropometric parameters, SPC, and pain and depression levels of FMS patients. Patients with FMS can safely perform Pilates exercises to control weight, improve physical appearance, and reduce SPC and pain and depression levels, and no adverse side effects were observed. To obtain further evidence regarding the effectiveness of Pilates exercises, additional studies involving different patient groups are required. (Turk J Rheumatol 2010; 25: 201-7)

Quality of Randomized, Controlled Trials Published in Our National Journals

“…In 2009 and 2010, these journals published five uncontrolled interventional trials [3][4][5][6][7] and 11 controlled trials. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] One of the major problems of the RCTs was the insufficient information regarding the method of randomization and allocation concealment.…”