Effects of 12-Week Clinical Pilates Exercises on Mechanical Low Back Pain
Condition: Low Back Pain
MeSH terms: Back Pain; Low Back Pain
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Objective: This study evaluates the effect of 12-week clinical pilates exercises on young
      adults with mechanical low back pain.

      Design: This is a randomized controlled trial. Setting: This study was conducted in a
      university's physiotherapy and exercise practice laboratory.

      Cases: A total of 63 mechanical low back pain volunteers were included. Interventions:
      Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group consisting of clinical Pilates
      exercises for 12 weeks (n = 31) or the control group not receiving any treatment (n = 32).
    

Detailed description: 
      Objective: This study evaluates the effect of 12-week clinical pilates exercises on young
      adults with mechanical low back pain.

      Design: This is a randomized controlled trial. Setting: This study was conducted in a
      university's physiotherapy and exercise practice laboratory.

      Cases: A total of 63 mechanical low back pain volunteers were included. The diagnosis of
      mechanical low back pain was made by a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician.
      Exercises are performed by an experienced physiotherapist with Clinical Pilates
      certification.

      Interventions: Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group consisting of
      clinical Pilates exercises for 12 weeks (n = 31) or the control group not receiving any
      treatment (n = 32).

      Leading measures: Dysfunction was evaluated with the Oswestry Dysfunction Index. The Oswestry
      Disability Index (ODI)7,9 is the most commonly used outcome-measure questionnaire for low
      back pain in a hospital setting. Low bak pain was evaluated with the Visual Analog Scale
      (VAS). VAS is a tool used to help a person rate the intensity of certain sensations and
      feelings, such as pain. The visual analog scale for pain is a straight line with one end
      meaning no pain and the other end meaning the worst pain imaginable. And flexibility was
      evaluated with the sit and reach test test. The sit and reach test is a common measure of
      flexibility, and specifically measures the flexibility of the lower back and hamstring
      muscles. Measurements were performed at baseline and the end of the 12th week of the study.
    

Intervention name(s): Clinical Pilates Exercises
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): Participants in the experimental group were included in the clinical Pilates intervention, which consisted of three weekly sessions for 50 minutes for 12 weeks. Clinical pilates sessions were performed by a clinically Pilates-certified instructor and a physiotherapist. The intervention was divided into three sections. Each session started with the warm-up section. The warm-up part started with breathing exercises, pelvic tilt centering, activation of deep trunk and pelvic floor muscles, and joint mobility. The Clinical Pilates exercises section consisted of matte level strength and flexibility exercises involving the trunk, upper and lower extremities. Finally, a cooling part was done that included some flexibility exercises.
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Intervention model description: This is a randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group and control group.
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Clinical Pilates; Low back pain; Therapeutic Exercise