title: Pilates-based exercise for persistent, non-specific low back pain and associated functional disability: a meta-analysis with meta-regression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were to systematically review and apply regression analysis to randomised controlled trials [RCTs] that evaluated the effectiveness of Pilates exercise in improving persistent, non-specific low back pain and functional disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electronic databases were searched from January 1950 to March 2011. Articles were eligible for inclusion if they were RCTs comparing Pilates exercise with a placebo treatment [PT], minimal intervention [MI] or another physiotherapeutic treatment [APT].
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine trials were included. Pilates was moderately superior to APT (pooled Effect Size [ES] weighted = -0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.08 to -1.03) in reducing disability but not for pain relief. Pilates provided moderate to superior pain relief compared to MI (pooled ES weighted = -0.44, 95% CI = -0.09 to -0.80) and a similar decrease in disability. The statistical model used did not detect any predictor variable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to the presence of co-interventions and the low methodological quality of some studies, these conclusions should be interpreted with caution.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education and Sports, University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica. aladro80@fastmail.es
authors.forename: Arián R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Aladro-Gonzalvo
authors.forename: Gerardo A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Araya-Vargas
authors.forename: Míriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Machado-Díaz
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Salazar-Rojas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult