Effectiveness of Pilates-Based Exercises in Managing Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review
Keywords:
Pilates, chronic nonspecific low back pain, systematic review, pain, functional disability, exercise therapyAbstract
Chronic nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) represents a pervasive musculoskeletal ailment, significantly impacting global public health and socioeconomic productivity. This systematic review synthesizes extant literature to critically evaluate the efficacy of Pilates-based exercises as a therapeutic intervention for individuals afflicted with NSLBP. A comprehensive search strategy was employed across prominent academic databases, referencing key systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Inclusion criteria encompassed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating Pilates interventions for NSLBP, reporting outcomes related to pain intensity and functional disability. Methodological quality was rigorously assessed using established tools such as the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and the PEDro scale. The synthesized evidence consistently demonstrates that Pilates-based exercises confer statistically significant reductions in pain and improvements in functional capacity among NSLBP populations. While heterogeneity among studies necessitates cautious interpretation, the overall findings underscore Pilates as a viable and beneficial modality in the multifaceted management of chronic low back pain. This review highlights the imperative for future research to adopt more standardized protocols, enhance methodological rigor, and explore long-term outcomes to further solidify the evidence base for Pilates in clinical practice
Downloads
References
Da Luz, M. A., Costa, L. O. P., Fuhro, F. F., Manzoni, A. C. T., Oliveira, N. T. B., & Cabral, C. M. N. (2014). Effectiveness of mat Pilates or equipment-based Pilates exercises in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain: A randomized controlled trial. Physical Therapy, 94(5), 623-631. https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20130074
Dagenais, S., Caro, J., & Haldeman, S. (2008). A systematic review of low back pain cost of illness studies in the United States and internationally. The Spine Journal, 8(1), 8-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2007.10.005
Hoy, D., Bain, C., Williams, G., March, A., Brooks, P., Blyth, F., ... & Buchbinder, R. (2010). A systematic review of the global prevalence of low back pain. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 64(6), 2028-2037. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.34347
Isacowitz, R., & Clippinger, K. (2011). Pilates Anatomy. Human Kinetics.
Lim, E. C., Poh, R. L., Low, A. Y., & Wong, W. P. (2011). Effects of Pilates-based exercises on pain and disability in individuals with persistent nonspecific low back pain: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 41(2), 70-80. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2011.3393
Manchikanti, L., Singh, V., Falco, F. J., Benyamin, R. M., & Caraway, D. L. (2014). Epidemiology of low back pain in adults. Pain Physician, 17(4), E323-E333.
Miyamoto, G. C., Costa, L. O. P., & Cabral, C. M. N. (2013). Efficacy of the Pilates method for pain and disability in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy, 17(6), 517-532. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1413-35552012005000122
Muscolino, J. E., & Cipriani, S. (2004). Pilates and the "powerhouse." Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 8(1), 15-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1360-8592(03)00078-X
Vos, T., Barber, R. M., Bell, B., Bertozzi-Villa, A., Biryukov, S., Bolliger, I., ... & Murray, C. J. L. (2015). Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 301 acute and chronic diseases and injuries in 188 countries, 1990–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. The Lancet, 386(9995), 743-800. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60692-4
Wells, C., Kolt, G. S., Marshall, P., & Bialocerkowski, A. (2014). The effectiveness of Pilates exercise in people with chronic low back pain: A systematic review. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 18(3), 468-477. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2013.11.010
Yamato, T. P., Maher, C. G., Saragiotto, B. T., Moseley, A. M., Hoffmann, T. C., & Elkins, M. R. (2015). Pilates for low back pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2015(7), CD010265. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010265.pub2
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
Terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.