The effect of the Pilates method on the treatment of chronic low back pain: a clinical, randomized, controlled study

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Low back pain is defined as a painful disorder located between the first and the fifth lumbar vertebra, and it is considered to be an important public health problem. In Brazil, approximately 10 million people are disabled as a result of this condition. The objective this study was to assess the effects of the Pilates method on the treatment of chronic low back pain. METHODS: The present study is based on a randomized, controlled clinical trial involving 16 individuals, aged 30-60 years, of both gender, with chronic low back pain, divided into control group and experimental group, with eight individuals each. Twelve sessions of 40 minutes were performed, in which nine positions of the Pilates method were applied within the experimental group. The control group performed kinesiotherapeutic conventional exercises. The visual analog scale and the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire were used before and after the study period in both groups. RESULTS: The assessment of pain and disability in the pre-and post-evaluation periods showed no statistically significant difference. The control group also showed no statistical difference for the visual analog scale and Oswestry scores between the pre-and post-evaluation periods, whereas the experimental group showed a significant difference between the scores obtained in these two different periods for the Oswestry and visual analog scores. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the method was effective for the group studied and proved to be suitable for the treatment of low back pain, but it did not prove superior to conventional physical therapy.

Avaliação do método Pilates no tratamento de indivíduos com dor lombar crônica inespecífica: ensaio clínico randomizado

“…Taking into account that the painful perception and the presence of disabling conditions faced by individuals with CNLBP, such as fear-avoidance of pain [14], in addition to muscle weakness, especially in the deep abdomen muscles, and less articular flexibility in the spine and in the lower limbs [29,30], a possible interpretation to reduce pain and physical capacity limitations in the PG ranked as SBST Medium, is due to the fact that physical exercise is able to induce hypoalgesia, by activation of endogenous pain inhibitory systems [31]. In addition, the hypoalgesia exercise--induced improve general well-being, based on action on some psychological factors through multiple cellular and molecular events produced at different levels of the nervous system following physical exercise.…”

“…Regarding exercises based on Pilates method, they can act with functional reeducation improving the overall posture and breathing pattern of these individuals, as well as strengthening the deep trunk muscles and the static and dynamic stability of the muscles related to the lumbar segment, favoring an improvement in health-related quality of life and a better performance in activities of daily and professional life [29,31]. Treatment with Pilates method still has variability in the length of service and sessions, but it is noteworthy that there is evidence [31] showing that the frequency of twice a week seems to be better than once a week and have similar effects to training three times a week.…”

“…The sample size to satisfy a statistical power of 80 % with 95% confidence was estimated by the computer program Bioestat (Civil Society Mamirauá, Tefé, AM, Brazil, Release 5.3, 2008) using data published by Silva et al [29] who evaluated the effect of 12 sessions of the Pilates method in individuals with chronic low back pain. The minimum number of subjects per group, Control or Pilates, was of 12 individuals according to averages and deviations previously published standards.…”

Influence of Pilates Method on Nonspecific Lumbar Pain

“…Muscular strength disorders are often found in patients with low back dysfunction, and it is estimated that > 80% of all cases of low back pain are caused by weakness of the trunk muscles. 19 Only Bhadauria et al assessed muscle strength by pressure biofeedback; as a result, they found no significant improvement in the Pilates group compared with the dynamic strengthening group and the stabilization group. Lower back, but showed significant improvement (p < 0.0001) within the Pilates group.…”

Intervenções no músculo diafragma em pacientes com dor lombar inespecífica: uma revisão bibliográfica

“…Persistindo por mais de doze semanas, a lombalgia em níveis lombar e sacral é considerada crônica, ocasionando um desequilíbrio neuronal e hipersensibilidade a estímulos externos (Silva, et al, 2018). Já outros autores defendem que se deve esperar no mínimo seis meses para tal diagnóstico, pois existem fatores que alteram essa dor, como peso corporal, sedentarismo e excesso de sobrecarga em atividades laborais (Faria, 2013).…”