Effects of the Pilates Method Versus Home Exercise in Individuals With Chronic Non-specific Back Pain

Summary

The aim is to compare the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a Pilates program versus home-based exercises in individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain. This is a randomized controlled trial with economic evaluation. Participants will be sequentially enrolled and randomly allocated into two groups: 1) Pilates: Mat Pilates sessions, supervised by a physiotherapist (2x/week for 6 weeks); 2) Home-Based Exercise: face-to-face familiarization (two sessions), supervised by another physiotherapist. After familiarization, the exercises will be prescribed using a booklet containing descriptions of sets/repetitions, as well as guidelines and precautions, to be performed during 6 weeks (2x/week) and monitored in a diary. Participants will be supervised by the physiotherapist (telephone/text messaging). Participants will be evaluated in three different moments: 1) Baseline (pre-intervention); 2) At the end of the intervention (post-intervention, 6 weeks); and 3) After six months follow-up (from post-intervention). Primary outcomes: pain intensity and disability. Secondary outcomes: perception of recovery, postural balance, and quality of life. Concurrently, a cost-effectiveness study will be conducted comparing the Pilates vs Home-Based Exercise, from the perspectives of public healthcare and society. In the first perspective, only costs incurred by the public healthcare system will be included (direct costs related to consultations, medications, tests, hospitalizations, and professional fees). In the second perspective, private health care expenses, costs incurred by patients (transportation and support by caregivers, when applicable), as well as indirect costs (missed workdays and loss of productivity) will be included. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for the primary outcomes and cost-utility ratios will be calculated for both perspectives. The cost-utility ratio will express the incremental costs per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). In addition, the absolute and incremental net monetary benefit will be calculated. Sensitivity analyses will be conducted. Data normality assumptions will be evaluated using the Shapiro Wilk test. If confirmed, a mixed model will be used, for the comparisons between groups and moments. It is hypothesized that the Pilates will be more cost-effective compared to the home-based exercise program.

Conditions

• Chronic Low Back Pain

Interventions

OTHER

Pilates

The protocol will be composed by the following exercises, structured in each session according to progression, difficulty and focus (respiration, stability, muscle strength and joint mobility): Arm Arcs, Bent Knee Opening, Sidelying, Dead Bug, Femur Arcs, Quadruped Series, Single Leg Stretch, Prone Press Up, Sidekick (Front to Back 1 e 2), Leg Pull Front, Mermaid, Spine Stretch, The Hundred, Pelvic Clock, Bridging, Stanging Roll Down, Swan, Saw, Dart, Swimming, Book Opening. .

OTHER

Home Exercises

The protocol will be divided into 3 phases, each one composed by the following exercises and structured according to difficulty progression and focus (postural reeducation, muscle strength, balance, joint flexibility): Muscle strength exercises composed by abdominal exercises; back extension exercises; gluteus maximus exercises. Stretching exercises for the lower back, pelvis, iliopsoas muscle, tensor fascia latae muscle).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Brasilia

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Rodrigo L Carregaro, PhD · University of Brasilia, School of Physical Therapy

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

50 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-04-02

Primary Completion

2020-12-20

Completion

2022-02-15

Countries

• Brazil

Study Locations