title: Efficacy of the Pilates method for pain and disability in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To systematically review the available evidence on the efficacy of the Pilates method in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Searches were performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PEDro, SciELO, LILACS, CINAHL and CENTRAL in March 2013. Randomized controlled trials that tested the effectiveness of the Pilates method (against a nontreatment group, minimal intervention or other types of interventions) in adults with chronic low back pain were included regardless the language of publication. The outcome data were extracted from the eligible studies and were combined using a meta-analysis approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The searches identified a total of 1,545 articles. From these, eight trials were considered eligible, and seven trials were combined in the meta-analysis. The comparison groups were as follows: Pilates versus other types of exercises (n=2 trials), and Pilates versus no treatment group or minimal intervention (n=4 trials) for short term pain; Pilates versus minimal intervention for short-term disability (n=4).We determined that Pilates was not better than other types of exercises for reducing pain intensity. However, Pilates was better than a minimal intervention for reducing short-term pain and disability (pain: pooled mean difference=1.6 points; 95% CI 1.4 to 1.8; disability: pooled mean difference=5.2 points; 95% CI 4.3 to 6.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pilates was better than a minimal intervention for reducing pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain. Pilates was not better than other types of exercise for short-term pain reduction.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Cidade de São Paulo, São PauloSP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gisela C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.affiliation: Universidade Cidade de São Paulo, São PauloSP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonardo O P
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Universidade Cidade de São Paulo, São PauloSP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristina M N
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cabral
mesh_terms: D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome