NCT07281183

Reformer Pilates and Manual Therapy in Women With Chronic Low Back Pain

The Effects Of Reformer Pilates And Manual Therapy On Pain, Kinesiophobia, Range Of Motion, Quality Of Life, Muscle Strength, Muscle Flexibility And Muscle Shortness In Women With Chronic Low Back Pain

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (actual)
• Sponsor: Uskudar University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 25 Years – 55 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of manual therapy alone and manual therapy combined with Reformer Pilates exercises in women with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Detailed description

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of manual techniques alone and manual techniques combined with Reformer Pilates exercises in women with chronic low back pain (CLBP), focusing on pain, kinesiophobia, range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, trunk endurance, functional level, and quality of life. A total of 40 women with CLBP who applied to the Kayroterapi Exercise Center were included. Participants were randomized by odd and even numbers into two groups. The control group (MTG) received a manual techniques protocol once a week for 50 minutes over 8 weeks, while the experimental group (MTRPG) received the same protocol in addition to two 50-minute Reformer Pilates sessions per week. Sociodemographic data were collected through a questionnaire specifically designed for the study. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), kinesiophobia with the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), and functional disability with the Functional Low Back Pain Scale and the Oswestry Disability Index. Muscle strength was evaluated using manual muscle testing, ROM with a goniometer, and trunk endurance with the sit-and-reach test.

Conditions

• Low Back Pain
• Pilates Exercise

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Manual and Physiotherapy Techniques	Within the scope of MTG's treatment program, during the first 20 minutes of the session, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) was applied to the lumbar region with three channels and a total of six electrodes, simultaneously combined with infrared therapy applied to the same area. Soft tissue and mobilization techniques were applied to the lumbar region and surrounding tissues for 15 minutes. Cupping massage and cupping therapy were performed for 5 minutes. The Graston technique was applied for 5 minutes to achieve soft tissue mobilization, and the final 5 minutes of the session were carried out using a portable percussion massage device.
OTHER	Manual and Physiotherapy Techniques and Reformer Pilates Group	n the treatment program of the MTRPG group, in addition to the treatment protocol applied in the MTG group, a reformer Pilates exercise program was implemented. Within this program, the session began with the Footwork series as a 5-10 minute warm-up. Subsequently, the exercises included the running exercise, frog exercise, leg circle series (up-down, circle, one leg side stretch), arm circle exercise series, pelvic lift, elephant exercise, and side stretch mermaid exercise, each performed for 10-15 repetitions. The final 5 minutes of the 50-minute reformer Pilates session consisted of child's pose and spinal stretching series.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-03-28
• Primary completion: 2025-07-19
• Completion: 2025-07-19
• First posted: 2025-12-15
• Last updated: 2025-12-15

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)