Efficacy and Influence of Pilates Based Physical Therapy Exercises for Low Back Pain

Efficacy and Influence of Pilates Based Physical Therapy Exercises on Spinal Radiographic Kinematics and Functional Status in Patients With Low Back Pain

An assessment of the effectiveness of Pilates based physical therapy exercises for patients with low back pain (LBP) and its influence on spinal movement and patient reported functional disability.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Mechanical Low Back Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Pilates Exercises

Detailed Description

Low back pain (LBP) is becoming a major public health problem associated with enormous economic burden on the modern society. Despite conservative interventions such as Pilates back exercises are routinely prescribed in clinical practice, most studies to date have only assessed its efficacy based on subjective patient reported outcomes with limited objective data available to clearly demonstrate the benefit of Pilates exercise on spinal alignment and mobility. Furthermore, patient adherence has been well identified to be an obstacle for effective home exercise program and the most cost-effective strategy to improve patient compliance remain unknown. Current study therefore aims to fulfil this gap in our knowledge by assessing the change of spinal alignment and kinematics utilizing dynamic radiographs performed pre- and post- a 6-week Pilates based physical therapy exercise program compare to a more generic hospital based back care exercise program. Furthermore, the effectiveness of conducing weekly phone reminders for 6 weeks on improving short (6-month) and long (12-month) term functional outcomes and patient compliance will also be assessed.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 100

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Andy Chien, PhD; Phone Number: 7307 +886-4-22053366; Email: achien@mail.cmu.edu.tw

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Taichung, Taiwan, 404
    • Recruiting
    • China Medical University Hospital
    • Contact: Andy Chien, PhD; Phone Number: 7307 +886-4-22053366; Email: achien@mail.cmu.edu.tw

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

It is anticipated that 100 patients with clinical signs and symptoms of low back pain (LBP) for at least 3 months will be recruited. 25 age-matched healthy control will also be recruited for the study.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Predominant LBP for a minimum of three consecutive months as diagnosed by a rehabilitation physician

Exclusion Criteria:

1. . Radicular neurological signs,
2. . Trauma induced LBP,
3. . Diagnosis of spinal deformity such as scoliosis or spondylolisthesis,
4. . Spinal infection or tumor,
5. . Rheumatologic conditions,
6. . Previous spinal surgery,
7. . History of hip or pelvic disorder that required treatment,
8. . Contradiction for radiographic exposure such as pregnancy.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Controls; Age-matched Healthy Controls
General Exercises; Low Back Pain Participants Receiving General Exercises
Pilates Exercises; Low Back Pain Participants Receiving Pilates Exercises	Other: Pilates Exercises; Pilates method based stability exercise intervention

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Radiographic Spino-pelvic Alignment Parameters	Thoroaco-lumbo-pelvic dynamic radiographs taken for both maximum flexion and extension will be analysed to determine parameters such as 1. Pelvic incidence angle, 2. Pelvic tilt angle, 3. Sacral slope angle, 4. Lumbosacral angle, 5. Lumbar lordosis angle and 6.	12-month
Radiographic Lumbar Spine Segmental and Global Range of Motion	Thoroaco-lumbo-pelvic dynamic radiographs taken for both maximum flexion and extension will be analysed to determine the lumbar spine segmental and its contribution to the global range of motion	12-month

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Modified Oswestry Disability Index	Questionnaires to determine patients' self-reported pain and functional disabilities	12-month
Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire	Questionnaires to determine patients' self-reported pain and functional disabilities	12-month
Short Form-36	Questionnaires to determine patients' self-reported pain and functional disabilities	12-month

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: China Medical University Hospital
• Collaborators: China Medical University, China
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Andy Chien, PhD, China Medical University, China

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: November 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2018
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 8, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 2, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): December 7, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): July 27, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 26, 2016
• Last Verified: July 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Physical Therapy; Pilates; Kinematics; Spinal alignment
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Back Pain; Low Back Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: CRREC-104-081