Table 2. Description of included studies.
| Author | Design | Participant (number) Age (years)=mean (SD) | Intervention | Exercise mode (frequency or intensity) | Outcome measures | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Does a Program of Pilates Improve CNSLBP5) | Gladwell, V., et al.5) | RCT | (CNSLBP)>=12 weeks; pain between lower rib cage and gluteal folds | Pilates + Drugs | Clinic: 1 hr, 1X per week for 6 weeks; Home: 30 minutes, 2X per week for 6 weeks (total: 12 hours) | RMVAS, OSWDQ, SF-12, Sports Functioning, Sit-and-reach test, Stork stand test, Symptom report, Pain diary | |
| E | n=25 Age (years)=36.9 (8.1) | ||||||
| C | n=24Age (years)=45.9 (8.0) | Normal activities + Drugs | 6 wks | ||||
| Pilates-Based Therapeutic Exercise: Effect on Subjects With Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain and Functional Disability: A RCT10) | Rydeard, R. et al.10) | RCT | CNSLBP>=6 weeks with or without leg pain | Pilates (floor mat and Pilates reformer) | Clinic: 1 hr × 3 times × 4 wks; Home: 15 min(total: 13 hours) | NRS, RMDQ | |
| E | n=21 Age (years)=37 (9) | ||||||
| C | n=18 Age (years)=34 (8) | Usual care/consultation | 4 wks | ||||
| Efficacy of the Addition of Modified Pilates Exercises to a Minimal Intervention in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A RCT23) | Miyamoto, G.C., et al.23) | RCT | CNSLBP>=12 weeks | Pilates + Booklet | 1 hr × 2 times × 6 wks (total: 12 hours) | NRS, RMDQ, Patient-Specific Functional scale, Global Perceived Effect scale, Kinesiophobia- Tampa scale, Expectancy for Improvement scale, Treatment Credibility scale | |
| E | n=43Age (years)=38.3 (11.4) | ||||||
| C | n=43Age (years)=40.7 (11.8) | Booklet | 6 wks | ||||
| Do patients with chronic low back pain benefit from attending Pilates classes after completing conventional physiotherapy treatment?9) | Quinn, K. et al.9) | RCT | CLBP>=12 weeks with no pain radiation below knee | Pilates | Clinic: 1 hr × 1 time × 8wks Home: 15 mins × 1 time × 8 wks (total: 10 hours) | VAS, RMDQ, SAT | |
| E | n=15Age (years)=41.8 (13.8) | ||||||
| C | n=14Age (years)=44.7 (12.5) | — | 8 wks | ||||
| Pilates improves pain, function and quality of life in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial8) | Natour, Jamil et al.8) | RCT | CNSLBP>=12weeks; pain between lower rib cage and gluteal folds | NSAID + Pilates | Pilates: 50 min. × 2 times × 3 m. 50 mg sodium Diclofenac at intervals no shorter than 8 h when needed (VAS for pain more than 7 cm). (total: 24 hours) | VAS, Roland Morris questionnaire, SF-36, sit and reach test, NSAID intake | |
| E | n=30Age (years)=47.8 (11.5) | ||||||
| C | n=30Age (years)=48.0 (13.0) | NSAID | 50 mg sodium Diclofenac at intervals no shorter than 8 h when needed (VAS for pain more than 7 cm). | ||||
| Clinical Pilates Versus General Exercise for Chronic Low Back Pain11) | Wajswelner Henry et al.11) | RCT | CLBP>=12 weeks with or without lower limb syndrome | Pilates (with equipment) + Daily home program | Clinic: 1 hr × 2 times × 6 wks; Home: 1 hr × 1 time (total: 12–14 hours) | Quebec scale, NRS, Pain Self- efficacy Questionnaire, Patient- Specific Functional scale, SF-36 | |
| E | n=44Age (years)=49.3 (14.1) | ||||||
| C | n=43Age (years)=48.9 (16.4) | General exercise + Daily home program | |||||
| Pilates Exercise or Stationary Cycling for Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: Does it Matter?6) | Marshall, P. W. et al.6) | RCT | CNSLBP>=12 weeks pain located costal margins and inferior gluteal folds | Pilates (mat + equipment) | 1 hr × 3 times × 8 wks (total: 24 hours) | VAS, OSWDQ, Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, Pain Catastrophizing Scale | |
| E | n=32Age (years)=36.2 (8.2) | ||||||
| C | n=32Age (years)=36.2 (6.2) | Stationary cycling | |||||
| Effectiveness of Mat Pilates or Equipment-Based Pilates Exercises in Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial22) | M.A. da Luz Jr et al.22) | RCT | CNSLBP>=12 weeks | Equipment-based Pilates | 1 hr × 2 times × 6 wks (total: 12 hours) | NRS, RMDQ, Global Perceived Effect Scale, Tampa Scale | |
| E | n=43Age (years)=43.5 (8.6) | ||||||
| C | n=43Age (years)=38.8 (9.9) | mat Pilates | |||||
Values are n, mean (SD), or as otherwise indicated. n: number; E: experimental group; C: control group; CLBP: chronic low back pain; CNSLBP: chronic non-specific low back pain; VAS: visual analogue scale; RCT: randomized control trial; RMVAS: Roland Morris pain rating visual analogue scale; OSWDQ: Oswestry Low-Back Pain Disability Questionnaire; NRS: numerical rating scale; RMDQ: Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire; SAT: Sahrmann Abdominal Test; SF: social functioning; NSAID: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug