None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Pilates exercises are shown in recent studies to be effective in managing people with non-specific chronic low back pain. Several variations of Pilates exercises exist and among them is the DMA Clinical Pilates method. The DMA Clinical Pilates method tailors intervention to specific individual needs. However, literature is scarce in supporting its use, which are limited to evaluation of self-reported pain and function as outcomes. Thus, this study is initiated to investigate the effects of DMA Clinical Pilates exercises primarily on balance and flexibility. We hypothesise that the DMA Clinical Pilates exercise group will show statistically significant difference in improving postural sway, flexibility and self-reported outcomes as compared to general Pilates and general exercise groups.
Interventions
DMA Clinical Pilates exercises will be prescribed according to the directional preference(s) of a participant. For example, participants who are left flexion bias (preferred direction) will start with simple left-sided trunk-hip movements into flexion, which can be progressed with exercises involving more movement phases (complex). The rate of perceived exertion of the exercises should be within 2 to 4/10 (mat work) or 4 to 6/10 (equipment-based). The intervention is conducted once weekly over 6
DMA Clinical Pilates exercises will be prescribed according to the directional preference(s) of a participant. For example, participants who are left flexion bias (preferred direction) will start with simple left-sided trunk-hip movements into flexion, which can be progressed with exercises involving more movement phases (complex). The rate of perceived exertion of the exercises should be within 2 to 4/10 (mat work) or 4 to 6/10 (equipment-based). The intervention is conducted once weekly over 6 weeks and 30 minutes per session. The first session is face-to-face (F2F) while subsequent sessions can be virtual or F2F depending on preference of the participant. Clinical Pilates group: Supervised by a physiotherapist with DMA Clinical Pilates certification. One-to-one session hybrid. Only sessions 2 to 5 are allowed for telerehabilitation. Home exercise adherence will be monitored weekly. The exercise protocol has been submitted to IRB for approval. The flexion exercise examples are overhead arms, bug leg, hundreds and spine stretch; Extension exercise examples are prone single leg kick, thigh stretch and scooter; Lateral flexion exercise examples are mermaid, side lunges, side clam; rotation exercise examples are bug roll, corkscrew and attitude rotation. Exercises are based on movement preference of the participants and are only done on one side at the start of the intervention.
Sponsors
Nanyang Technological University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
21 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
- Pain in the lower back with and without lower limb symptoms on most days of the week; - Pain in the lower back for >3 months (chronic); - Average pain in the past week greater than or equal to 4 points rated on the 11-point pain numeric rating scale (0 = no pain); and - Understands written and spoken English.
Exclusion criteria
- Recent spinal surgery (past 6 months); - On-going fever or infection; - Unexplained weight loss (>5% body weight) or loss of appetite; - Malignant cancer or received cancer intervention in the past 6 months; - Cauda equina lesion, complete loss of bladder or bowel control, or saddle paresthesia; - Known pregnancy at point of screening; - Recent spinal fractures (past 3 months); - Spinal inflammatory disease such as ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis; or - Recent exercise intervention for managing low back pain (past 3 months).
Outcome results
None listed