title: Equipment-based Pilates reduces work-related chronic low back pain and disability: A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated effectiveness of an equipment-based Pilates protocol for reducing pain and disability in individuals with work-related chronic low back pain (CLBP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve workers with non-specific CLBP participated in a quasi-experimental, one-group, pretest-posttest pilot study of supervised 6-week equipment-based Pilates exercise. Pain severity was assessed using a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS). Physical function was assessed using the Oswestry disability index (ODI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Pilates intervention significantly reduced pain (mean decrease in VAS 30.75 ± 20.27, p < 0.0001) and disability (mean decrease in ODI 11.25 ± 13.20, p < 0.02) with large and borderline large effect sizes, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rehabilitative Pilates exercise reduced pain and disability in workers with CLBP. Further research is needed to investigate Pilates exercise for rehabilitation of work-related injuries in large populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Graduate Nursing, Samuel Merritt University, Oakland, CA, USA; Department of Occupational Medicine, Kaiser Permanente, Folsom, CA, USA. Electronic address: dstiegz@comcast.net.
authors.forename: Dana Duval
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Stieglitz
authors.affiliation: The Permanente Medical Group and Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, CA, USA.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Vinson
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Samuel Merritt University, Oakland, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle De Coux
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hampton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Chronic low back pain; Equipment-based Pilates; Pilates; Pilates protocol; Work-related chronic low back pain