Year: 2023 | Month: November | Volume: 13 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 380-396
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20231147
The Effectiveness of Clinical Pilates in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain
Paraskevopoulos Eleftherios1, Kotrokoi Ilia1
1Department of Physiotherapy, Aegean College, Athens, Greece
Corresponding Author: Paraskevopoulos Eleftherios
ABSTRACT
Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the most common causes of functional impairments and disability, and the Pilates method has recently become a popular form of exercise for individuals undergoing rehabilitation. The effects of the Pilates approach in people with CLBP have been studied in several published researches. The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of Pilates method in pain, functionality, balance, flexibility and Quality of life (Qol), in adults with CLBP. A search for English Randomized Control Trials (RCTs) was undertaken using medical phrases and keywords for “Pilates” and “low back pain”, within the last decade, in the PubMed database. One reviewer was involved in the selection of evidence, and from the 42 studies that emerged, 10 RCTs were included satisfying the eligibility criteria. A methodological quality assessment was also performed, using the PEDro scale and the mean score of the included RCTS was 6,7. The systematic review’s findings indicated that a Pilates exercise programme as a rehabilitation, compared to no other intervention, in patients with CLBP or NSCLBP, results in short-term, statistically significant improvements in pain and functionality. The data supporting its effects in balance, flexibility and Qol are quite limited, as well as, the evidence regarding the superiority of the Pilates compared to other forms of physical exercise, are unclear. There are also, presented the limitations of this study and of the RCTs included in this systematic review. Overall, Pilates method has a greater improvement in pain and functional ability. Future studies should be conducted to support also the evidence about the positive effects of Pilates exercise in balance, flexibility and Qol, as well as, to examine the superiority of Pilates exercise compare to other forms of exercise.
Key words: Pilates, Chronic Low Back Pain, Exercise