title: Effects of Pilates and trunk strengthening exercises on health-related quality of life in women with chronic low back pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pilates programs are widely used as a form of regular exercise in a broad range of populations investigating their effectiveness for chronic low back pain (CLBP) treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a Pilates program and a trunk strengthening exercise program on functional disability and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in women with nonspecific CLBP.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 101 volunteer women with CLBP provided data with a 3-month follow-up. They were randomized to either a Pilates (n= 37), trunk strengthening exercise (n= 36) or a control group (n= 28), exercising for a period of 8 weeks, three times a week. Data were collected on HRQOL using the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36v2), and functional disability using the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire prior to program initiation, mid-intervention, immediately after program termination, and three months post-intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Pilates participants reported greater improvements on self-reported functional disability and HRQOL compared with participants in the trunk strengthening exercise and control groups (p < 0.05). The effects were retained for a period of three months after program termination for the Pilates group and to a lesser extent for the trunk strengthening exercise group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An 8-week Pilates program improved HRQOL and reduced functional disability more than either a trunk strengthening exercise program or controls among women with CLBP.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuromechanics, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kofotolis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuromechanics, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleftherios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kellis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Social Research on Physical Activity, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Symeon P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Vlachopoulos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuromechanics, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Iraklis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gouitas
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Exercise Psychology and Quality of Life, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, Greece.
authors.forename: Yannis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Theodorakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: Exercise rehabilitation; back pain; lumbar spine muscle recruitment; stabilization exercises