TABLE 1.

STUDY CHARACTERISTICS & KEY FINDINGS

First Author/Year	n-Group	Intervention	Outcomes Measures & Follow-Up	Key findings
Mind-Body Exercise vs Non-Exercise Controls
Miyamoto 2013 34	43-Pilates	8 exercises aimed at improving breathing associated with core stability, posture, strengthening of specific muscles, and flexibility of the lower limbs and spinal muscles in all planes of movement. Number of repetitions per exercise was individualized and ranged from 5 to 10 repetitions. Exercises were progressed in difficulty in 3 levels. 60 min 2x/wk for 6 wks.	NRS; RMDQ Short & Long-term (6 mo.)	Pain: Between-group adjusted mean difference for NRS immediately following intervention was 2.2 (p<.01) favoring Pilates. No between-group differences on NRS were seen at 6 month follow-up. Disability: Between group adjusted mean difference for RMDQ was 2.7 (p<.01), but this statistical difference was not maintained at 6 month follow-up.
	43- Education	Educational booklet containing information about anatomy and recommendations regarding posture and movements involved in activities of daily living. Received 2x/wk telephone calls for clarifications regarding instructions for 6 wks.
Cruz-Diaz 2015 29	53-Pilates	Intervention provided to control group + Pilates based exercise using fitballs, magic rings and TheraBand; flexibility and joint mobility exercises; breathing exercises; and motor control and posture correction tasks. Difficulty progressed throughout intervention. Individualized exercise prescription based on limitations. 60 min 2x/wk for 6 wks.	NRS; ODI Short & Long-term (12 mo.)	Pain: PT + Pilates group demonstrated statistically significant improvements [between or within] in NRS for short- and long-term follow-up. Disability: Within-group mean difference for ODI was statistically significant at both time points, but the MCID was only met at 1 year follow-up
	48-Standard PT	Electrotherapy (TENS) with a pulse frequency of 100 Hz, pulse duration of 200 ms and application time of 40 min and PA joint mobilization based on Maitland principles with an oscillation frequency of 1–2 Hz during 30 s in the hypomobile or painful lumbar segment for 10 min approximately. 2x/week for 6 wks.
Cruz-Diaz 2015 28	50-Pilates	Intervention provided to control group + Pilates exercise. 60 min 2x/wk for 6 wks.	NRS Short-term	Pain: The intragroup effect size for the control group was small (d = .48), but very large for the Pilates group (d = 3.31). The between-group effect size was very large (d = 1.46).
	47-Standard PT	Electrotherapy (TENS) with a pulse frequency of 100 Hz for 40 min, and 20 min of massage and stretching of the “low-back zone.” 2x/wk for 6 wks.
Cruz-Diaz 2018 30	32-Pilates	Pilates exercise including warm-up with breathing exercises, pelvis tilt centering, deep trunk and pelvic floor muscles activation and joint mobility. Followed by strength and flexibility exercises involving the trunk, upper and lower limbs. A cool down section with some stretching exercises was performed last. Exercises were adapted in difficulty to be suitable for participants and progressed. 50 min 2x/wk 12 wks.	VAS; RMDQ Short-term	Pain: Between group mean differences favored the Pilates group. Between group mean difference for VAS was 2.8 and 2.4 following 6 and 12 weeks of intervention, respectively. Disability: Between group mean difference for RMDQ was 4.0 at both 6 and 12 weeks of intervention favoring the Pilates group.
	32-Control	Educational booklet and waitlist for future Pilates interventions.
Mind-Body Exercise vs Exercise Control
Wajswelner 2012 36	44-Pilates	Initial 1-hr individual session with physiotherapist. Up to 2 further 30-min individual sessions. Followed by group Pilates sessions (maximum of 4 people). Pilates program consisted of 6 to 12 equipment-based exercises plus 1–4 home-based exercises. 60 min 2x/wk for 6 wks	VAS; Quebec Scale Short-term & Long-term (18 wks)	Pain: Both groups showed significant improvements in pain following intervention. No statistically significant changes were observed between groups for VAS at any time point. Disability: Both groups showed significant improvements following intervention. Improvements on the Quebec Scale were maintained in both groups at 12 & 24 weeks. No differences between groups were observed
	43-Gen Ex.	Initial 1-hr individual session with physiotherapist. Up to 2 further 30-min individual sessions. Followed by group exercise sessions (max of 4 people). Exercises included stationary bike, leg stretches, upper body weights, TheraBand, Swiss ball, and floor exercises that were multidirectional and nonspecific in nature. Asked participants to perform daily home exercises. 60 min 2x/wk 6 wks
Mostagi 2015 35	11-Pilates	Individual Pilates sessions included direction-specific exercise program based on examination. Body perception aspects included postural alignment (neutral spine, positioning of the scapula and cervical spine) and recruitment of "core muscles". All aspects were performed with controlled breathing. Exercises used bodyweight, Swiss ball, Cadillac, and Reformer; difficulty was progressed. 60 min 2x/wk for 8 wks	VAS; Quebec Scale Short-term & Long-term (3 mo.)	Pain: The Pilates group demonstrated greater reductions in pain immediately following intervention and at follow-up. These between group differences were not statistically significant. Disability: The General Exercise group demonstrated greater improvements in Quebec Scale score that were statistically significant at short- and long-term follow-up.
	11-Gen Ex.	Individual exercise sessions comprised of commonly used exercises for the management of CLBP. These exercises included stationary bicycling, trunk and lower limb stretching, spine mobilization and trunk muscle strengthening; difficulty was progressed. 60 min 2x/wk for 8 wks
Devasahayam 2016 33	14-Pilates	Pilates group underwent individualized Pilates exercise that was prescribed based on Postural Stability Deficits observed during rebound hopping assessment. 30 min 1x/wk for 6 wks	NRS Short-term	Pain: Within group changes on NRS were similar between groups with mean control group scores decreasing 2.33 points and mean Pilates group decreasing 2.00 points.
	10-Control	Gym-based exercises by a physiotherapist “per their needs”. A combination of strengthening, flexibility and balance training exercises was performed using gym equipment such as the leg press, foam roller, wobble board and stationary bicycle. Individualized 30-min sessions. 30 min 1x/wk for 6 wks
Demirel 2019 32	40-Yoga	Yoga program included education on the philosophy of yoga, its purpose, and the exercises, in addition to diaphragmatic respiration. Authors describe specific poses and progression of exercise throughout program. 60 min 3x/wk for 6 wks	VAS; ODI Short-term	Pain: Mean resting VAS in the Yoga group decreased from 2.92 to 1.06. Mean resting VAS in the stabilization group decreased from 2.62 to 1.76. Mean activity VAS in the Yoga group decreased from 5.76 to 2.36. Mean activity VAS in the stabilization group decreased from 6.72 to 3.78. Between-group mean differences post treatment are not statistically significant or clinically meaningful based on MCID. Disability: Mean ODI score in the yoga group decreased from 30.94 to 18.41. Mean ODI score in the stabilization group decreased from 39.67 to 23.66. Between-group mean differences post treatment are not statistically significant or clinically meaningful based on MCID.
	37-Stabilization	Stabilization exercise program began with diaphragmatic respiration and co-contraction of TA and LM in supine, prone, standing, sitting and crawling positions. Trunk and hip exercises progressed from sidelying exercise, to closed chain exercise, to open chain exercise and eventually use of resistive bands. 60 min 3x/wk for 6 wks

NRS: Numeric Rating Scale; RMDQ: Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire; VAS: Visual Analog Scale; ODI: Oswestry Disability Index. Short-term: 0–6 weeks. Long-term: ≥ 12 weeks.