Effects of pilates exercises on radiographic lumbo-pelvic alignment and range of motion in non-specific low back pain patients

Ching Huang; Yueh-Ling Hsieh; Li-Wei Chou; Jaw-Lin Wang; Andy Chien

doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2023.10.004

Effects of pilates exercises on radiographic lumbo-pelvic alignment and range of motion in non-specific low back pain patients

J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2024 Apr:38:339-345. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2023.10.004. Epub 2024 Feb 5.

Authors

Ching Huang¹, Yueh-Ling Hsieh², Li-Wei Chou³, Jaw-Lin Wang⁴, Andy Chien⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Therapy, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
² Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
³ Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Asia University Hospital, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: a.chien@outlook.com.

PMID: 38763578
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2023.10.004

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the effects of Pilates exercises on lumbo-pelvic alignment in non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) patients.

Methods: Twenty-two patients (Male:7; Female:15) with NSLBP aged 20-65 years were recruited and classified based on a modified O'Sullivan's classification system into flexion pattern (FP) or active extension pattern (EP) groups. Oswestry Disability index (ODI), Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) as well as radiographic lumbar global range of motion (ROM) and lumbo-pelvic alignment were measured Pre- and immediately post-intervention and at 6- and 12-month. The intervention included supervised six-weeks Pilates program with 60 min per session and up to two sessions per week.

Results: Lumbar lordosis, sacral slope and sacral inclination were found to be significantly different between the FP and EP groups based on the O'Sullivan's classification system. However, despite the significant changes in RMDQ (p = 0.001), no significant changes were found for any of the alignment parameters (p > 0.05) post intervention for both groups. For lumbar global ROM, a statistically significant change was observed for the EP group (p = 0.028) but not for the FP group (p = 0.249). No significant correlations were identified between any of the self-reported outcomes, radiographic alignment and ROM parameters.

Conclusions: Patients self-perceived long-term functional improvements based on responding to questionnaires after Pilates exercises were not reflected in significant changes in lumbo-pelvic alignment or lumbar ROM. This may be due to the current cohort demonstrating within normal ranges due to the lesser severity of their condition, but further research is needed for clarification.

Keywords: Low back pain; O'Sullivan's classification; Pilates; Radiography.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Disability Evaluation
Exercise Movement Techniques* / methods
Female
Humans
Low Back Pain* / physiopathology
Low Back Pain* / rehabilitation
Low Back Pain* / therapy
Lumbar Vertebrae* / physiopathology
Lumbosacral Region
Male
Middle Aged
Pelvis
Radiography
Range of Motion, Articular* / physiology
Young Adult