title: Effectiveness of mat Pilates or equipment-based Pilates exercises in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Pilates method has been widely used to treat patients with chronic low back pain. Pilates exercises can be performed in 2 ways: by using specific equipment or without it (also known as mat Pilates). There are no studies, however, that have compared the effectiveness of mat Pilates with that of equipment-based Pilates.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of mat Pilates and equipment-based Pilates in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 2-arm randomized controlled trial with a blinded assessor was conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted at a private physical therapy clinic in Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-six patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain participated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 groups: a mat Pilates group (n=43) and an equipment-based Pilates group (n=43). The participants in both groups attended 12 Pilates sessions over a period of 6 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcomes were pain intensity and disability. The secondary outcomes were global perceived effect, patient's specific disability, and kinesiophobia. A blinded assessor evaluated the outcomes at baseline and 6 weeks and 6 months after randomization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 6 months, there was a statistically significant difference for disability (mean difference=3.0 points, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.6 to 5.4), specific disability (mean difference=-1.1 points, 95% CI=-2.0 to -0.1), and kinesiophobia (mean difference=4.9 points, 95% CI=1.6 to 8.2) in favor of equipment-based Pilates. No differences were found for the remaining outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Equipment-based Pilates was superior to mat Pilates in the 6-month follow-up for the outcomes of disability and kinesiophobia. These benefits were not observed for pain intensity and global perceived effect in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.
authors.affiliation: M.A. da Luz Jr, PT, MS, Master's and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maurício Antônio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: da Luz
authors.forename: Leonardo Oliveira Pena
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Fernanda Ferreira
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Fuhro
authors.forename: Ana Carolina Taccolini
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Manzoni
authors.forename: Naiane Teixeira Bastos
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Cristina Maria Nunes
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cabral
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires