Efficiency of Application of Pilates as a Mean of Physical Therapy in Women with Degenerative-Dystrophic Lesions of the Lumbar Spine
Authors:   Khortytsia National Academy. 59, Naukove Mistechko Str., Zaporizhzhya 69017, Ukraine, Odynets T. , Kolomiichenko O. ,   State Institution South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynsky. 26, Staroportofrankovska St., Odessa 65020, Ukraine
Published: October 2021

Degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the lumbar spine are characterized by a systemic multifactorial course and significantly affect the quality of life. Spinal pain due to degenerative-dystrophic diseases very often affects middle-aged people, in particular women, leading to temporary or permanent disability. Degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine are accompanied by neurological manifestations, pain syndromes, prone to a protracted course and have repeated relapses. The purpose of the study was to determine the features of physical therapy to improve the functional state of the spine in middle-aged women with degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the lumbar spine. Materials and methods. The following research methods were used in the study: theoretical analysis of scientific and methodological literature, empirical (determination of the functional state of the muscles of the trunk), pedagogical experiment, methods of mathematical statistics. The study involved 28 women. The main group and the comparison group of 14 people each were formed by the method of random sampling, the average age of the subjects was 40.44 ± 1.25 and 41.60 ± 1.14 years old, respectively. The main group was studied according to the developed program of physical therapy with the use of Pilates, the comparison group – according to the program of therapeutic gymnastics (general developmental orientation) of the communal non-profit enterprise "Zaporizhzhya Regional Clinical Hospital". The study of the functional state of the muscles of the trunk was assessed according to the following tests: the time of holding the lateral support; keeping the support lying on the forearms; static body retention; holding the torso at an angle of 60˚; flexion and extension of the spine. Results and discussion. According to the results of the final rehabilitation examination, it was found that in the comparison group it was not possible to record a possible improvement in the functional state of the muscles of the trunk and the amplitude of the spine. At the same time in the main group such changes occurred in all the studied parameters. In particular, the index of lateral support retention in the main group significantly increased by 8.00 s (p <0.05), retention of the support lying on the forearms – by 10.00 s (p <0.05), static trunk retention - by 9.5 s (p <0.05), holding the trunk at an angle of 60˚ - by 10.00 s (p <0.05), flexion of the spine – by 3.00 cm (p <0.05), extension of the spine – by 5.00 cm (p <0.05). Conclusion. The results of the study indicate that Pilates is an effective means of improving the functional state of the muscles of the trunk and the amplitude of the spine, which was confirmed by significantly better indicators of functional tests in the main group compared with the women in the comparison group