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INTRODUCTION
Chronic back pain is a musculoskeletal problem with a prevalence of approximately 11.9% in the world population and high costs related to losses in productivity, leave of absence and expenses to the healthcare system in the economically advanced societies of the present time1. Anatomically, it can be defined as a pain present from the last costal arch until the gluteal fold, persisting for more than 12 weeks and frequently not resulting from specific diseases but from of a set of causes, as sociodemographic factors (age, gender, income), behavior factors (smoking and lack of physical exercises), ergonomic exposure (stressful physical work, vicious working positions, repetitive movements), among others2,3.
It was the first cause of disability retirement in Brazil, in 20074. Therefore, there is a great amount of time and resources spent with patients with this type of musculoskeletal disease and about 50 billion dollars per year are directed to expenses related to low back pain around the world5.
Disability, when associated with chronic back pain, can be explained as the difficulty or impossibility to accomplish daily tasks and activities due to the painful picture. Self-care, household chores, work, social and leisure activities can be affected or even impaired, because of the pain. Other variables involved in defining disability are anxiety, stress, and fear6,7.
There are many physiotherapeutic resources for the treatment of chronic back pain proposed in the literature. However, the one with better evidence is physical exercise8. Treatments based on exercises to improve trunk muscle strength and resistance are important to reduce the intensity of pain and the functional impairment9. Another treatment approach for chronic back pain is the Postural School, a multidisciplinary program based on health education aiming to facilitate the acquisition of healthier postural habits. The benefits of this technique are not limited to the musculoskeletal disorder, but also to the quality of life and psychosocial aspects3.
In this context, among the kinesiotherapy methods to patient's global approach is Pilates. This method reduces pain levels and, consequently, the damages caused by the painful picture in daily life activities (DLA) and practical life activities (PLA), since the exercises created by Josef Pilates in 1918, can be considered as the torso stabilization. The Pilates method requires contractions of the abdominal muscles (rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis, internal and external oblique), gluteus, perineal and lumbar paravertebral muscles, the so-called powerhouse, responsible for the static and dynamic core stabilization9,10.
Moreover, resistance exercise and dynamic stretching, associated with breathing during the execution of the exercises promote a uniform strengthening the powerhouse, providing more core-stabilization, thus being effective in the elimination of the painful low back syndrome11.
The Pilates method is based on a concept called "Contrology," which consists of the conscious control of all body muscle movements with the correct use and application of the most important principles of the forces acting on the musculoskeletal system, with the full knowledge of the functional body mechanisms. Pilates exercises are performed, in its great majority, in the lying position, resulting in less overload in the joints of the body support in orthostatism, enabling the recovery of muscle, joint, and ligament structures, particularly of the lumbar segment12.
In addition, Pilates is characterized by a set of movements where the neutral position of the spine is always respected, aiming to improve the coordination of breath with the body movement, the general flexibility, muscle strength, and posture, which are important factors in the posture-re-education process. When performing these low-impact exercises, it is recommended to use six principles: concentration, control, precision, flow, breath, and centering13.
The prescription of Pilates exercises for patients with chronic back pain is justified by the fact that this method is based on exercises that emphasize body stretching and strengthening. Therefore, the method jointly works isometric strengthening, global stretching, breathing, and proper positioning of the spine promoting a broader body awareness and proprioception in the exerciser14.
The exercises proposed by the Pilates method are commonly used in the clinical practice of physiotherapists with satisfactory results. However, there is little evidence in the scientific literature on its effectiveness in patients with chronic low back pain15.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Pilates exercises in the treatment of the chronic back pain in individuals attending the Physiotherapy sector of the Medical Specialties Center of Senador Canedo (CEMSC), Goiás, GO.
METHODS
This is a clinical, controlled and randomized study. The sample was composed of patients with a clinical diagnosis of chronic back pain (with painful symptoms for more than three months) that were in the waiting line of the public physiotherapeutic service at CEMSC. The participants were referred to the study according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, soon after an individualized clinical evaluation performed by the researchers.
The inclusion criteria of the study were a clinical diagnosis of chronic back pain by the physicians of the different Primary Care Units of Senator Canedo - Goiás; with age from 30 to 60 years; of both gender; voluntary participation in the study; be literate and able to communicate verbally. The exclusion criteria were: individuals with hypertension, severe neurologic, respiratory, cardiac, orthopedic diseases (fractures, instability, hernias, stenosis, and tumors), diagnosed by any clinical way and following a physiotherapeutic treatment in parallel to the present study.
The participants were duly informed by the researchers about the purpose of the study and its relevance to the society. Information was given in writing and orally and was detailed in the Free and Informed Consent Form (FICT). The subjects who agreed to participate in the study signed the FICT and then the 16 participants were referred to the physiotherapeutic treatment at CEMSC.
The size of the sample was calculated using 50% of the statistical power, 30% of improvement in the experimental group (visual analog scale - VAS), the Oswestry questionnaire, and a standard deviation of two points, giving the number of 15 participants in each group. It was used 5% of significance.
Thirty subjects were on the waiting list for physiotherapeutic treatment at CEMSC, and all of them were evaluated according to the eligibility criteria of the study. Of those, eight were excluded, and 22 participated in the study. The 22 subjects were randomly divided into two groups by means of a simple raffle, where the participants' names were in a dark envelope, and their names were taken one by one. The first 11 names were allocated in the control group (CG) and the other 11 in the experimental group (EG). However, only 16 participants concluded the treatment, as illustrated infigure 1.
It was used a sociodemographic questionnaire, structured by the researchers, with items related to personal data and some clinical information of the subjects of the study. The subjects informed their weight and height for the calculation of the body mass index (BMI). The VAS was also used to assess the subjects' pain intensity. And finally, the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire was applied to identify the impact of pain in participants' DLA and PLA.
The EG participated in the Pilates Method exercises. The CG performed conventional stretching and strengthening exercises for the spine and lower limbs. Both the CG and the EG had 12 sessions between April and May 2016, twice a week, with 40 minutes duration of individualized sessions. The place selected for the data collection was a large and ventilated room located in the CEMSC premises. The researcher conducted the treatment and evaluation sessions and also applied and analyzed the questionnaires and the VAS, before and after the intervention.
The exercises of the Pilates method selected for this study were: breathing with activation of transverse abdominis, in addition to the following postures: Spine Stretch, The Spine Twist, The Hundred, The one leg circle, The Plank, Leg Pull Front, Swimming, Rocking, Swan. (Annex 1).
The postures selected are described in the literature10,16 and followed these directions:
in the first session, to ensure a basic level of execution of movements before applying the Pilates method to the EG, the participants became familiar with the exercises;
nine exercises were adopted in each session, and each of them was repeated 10 times with an interval of one minute between each posture;
the postures adopted favored the respiratory chain, anterior, anterointernal hip, and the posterior chain, since it is observed a greater involvement due to muscle weakness and shortening in these chains in patients with chronic lower back pain14;
there was no posture progression, that is, the exercises did not change in terms of positioning. Moreover, the postures selected did not use balls or equipment, so that the intervention protocol could be applied in any situation;
The postures were maintained in accordance with the respiratory rhythm of each participant, determined by the time of forced and prolonged exhalation that should last about 10 seconds;
before the Pilates exercises, the volunteers received verbal instructions on how each exercise should be performed with a demonstration by the researcher;
during the postures, the researcher corrected the participants who were not doing the exercise correctly by tactile or verbal stimulation.
In the CG, resistance exercises were applied jointly with stretching exercises in a protocol of general exercises, with the purpose to simulate the common practice of exercises usually prescribed by physiotherapists in patients with low back pain16. The protocol consisted of stretching exercises with three repetitions, keeping the stretching stimulus for 30 seconds with a 30-second pause between each repetition. Strengthening exercises were performed in a series of 10 repetitions, using only the body load and handspikes to promote endurance, with a 30-second pause in each position17.
The protocol of the CG comprised of the following exercises, gluteus strengthening, abdominal strengthening, hamstrings strengthening, torso strengthening, anterior torso stretching, and torso extensor strengthening, hip adductors stretching, knee rocking, abdominal with a partial lift of the torso and rotation, piriformis stretching, knee to chest unilateral16-18.
The study was conducted in accordance with the Guidelines and Regulatory Standards for Research Involving Human Subjects (Resolution 466/2012, of the National Health Council). It was duly submitted, reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculdades Integradas de Santa Fé do Sul (FISA/FUNEC), with opinion number 1.772.749.
Statistical analysis
Descriptive analyses were performed using frequency and percentage measures, central tendency (average) and variability (standard deviation) of the VAS score and the questionnaires. The inferential statistical analysis was performed using the Bio Estat 5.0 software, and the distribution normality was performed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. The differences in the average of the variables of the levels of pain and disability intragroup were analyzed using the Student's t-test for paired samples, and the CG and EG intergroup variables were analyzed using the Student's t-test for independent samples. The significance level considered was alpha=0.05.
RESULTS
The CG had an average age of 44.87±11.07 years, with BMI of 25.49±3.70kg/cm2, with seven female subjects and one male. In the group, five subjects (62.5%) of the sample were Caucasian and 3 were brown. Three subjects were married, three single and one divorced. Regarding the educational level of the CG, only one participant had a complete higher education (12.5%), two had complete elementary school, two had complete high school, two had incomplete elementary school and one had incomplete high school.
The average age of EG was 47±8.48 years, average BMI of 25.96±3.55kg/cm2, with seven female subjects and one male. In the group, four subjects were married, and four were single. The educational level of the group was characterized by three individuals (57.12%) with incomplete elementary education, three with complete elementary education, one with incomplete high school and one with complete high school.
The age and BMI values between the CG and EG groups had no statistically significant difference. The average values, standard deviation and p values for the Student's t-test are shown in table 1.
Table 1 Average values, standard deviation between the studied groups
| Groups | Age (years) | BMI (kg/cm2) |
|---|---|---|
| CG | 44.87±11.07 | 25.49±3.70 |
| EG | 47.00±8.48 | 25.96±3.55 |
| p value | 0,6732 | 0,8000 |
Source: the author (2016).
CG = control group; EG = experimental group; BMI = body mass index.
As for participants' working activity of the CG, six of them had paid employment jobs. In the EG, six participants did not have paid employment jobs. Both in the CG and the EG, participants reported having back pain for more than 24 months, with seven and six participants, respectively. It was observed that seven members of the CG and five individuals in the EG did not perform physical exercises.
Pain assessment by VAS, before and after between the groups showed no significant statistical difference. The CG also showed no statistical difference for the VAS values pre and post-assessment moments, and the EG presented significance between the values obtained in both pre and post moments of collection (table 2).
Table 2 Average values and standard deviation of the groups studied
| Groups | Pre-VAS | Post-VAS | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
| CG | 5.75 ± 2.81 | 3.25±3.37 | 0,1006 |
| EG | 5.00±2.00 | 2.00±2.56 | 0.0031* |
| p value | 0.5489 | 0.4177 |
Source: the author (2016).
*Significant difference between the averages; CG = control group; EG = experimental group; VAS = visual analog scale.
With regard to the Oswestry questionnaire, the pre and post moments between the groups did not present significant statistical difference. The CG did not present statistical difference between the pre and post moments, while the EG showed a statistically significant difference between the pre and post moments, with a p-value of 0.0021 (Table 3).
Table 3 Average values and standard deviation, p values between intergroups and intragroup moments
| Groups | Pre-Oswestry | Post-Oswestry | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
| CG | 47.25 ± 17.13 | 37.75 ± 19.25 | 0,069 |
| EG | 36.75 ± 7.70 | 24.75 ± 11.56 | 0.0021* |
| p value | 0.1362 | 0.1238 |
Source: the author (2016).
*Significant difference between the averages; CG = control group; EG = experimental group.
DISCUSSION
It was observed higher participation of women with low back pain in the present study. This can be attributed to women's greater awareness facing the signs and symptoms, who frequently seek more health services. In addition, household chores added to paid employment can lead to an overload on the lumbar segment due to repetitive work, in a non-ergonomic position and at high speed19. However, the meaning of pain for men can be influenced by social and cultural factors that allow the woman to express their pain while men are encouraged to ignore it, since insensitivity in the face of pain may be related to issues of manhood, which can justify the reduced number of male participants in the study20,21.
In relation to age, in this study, there were individuals in the age group between 30 and 60 years, corroborating with similar results in the literature22. This is the age group of economically active individuals, which reduces their functional capacity to work and to perform their DLA with an impact on the quality of life of these individuals23. Aging can result in progressive degenerative changes in the spine with the wear of musculoskeletal structures of the lumbar segment, bringing pain as a consequence24.
The BMI results obtained for the CG and EG subjects point out an overweight of the studied sample. When there is an excessive load that the musculoskeletal structure is required to sustain, this can result in changes in the biomechanical balance of the lumbar spine25.
The data indicate that in both groups there was a prevalence of individuals with low schooling, corroborating the studies conducted in the South and Southeast of the country26,27. Individuals with lower levels of education have professions that have a higher physical demand, which may explain the relationship between the educational level and low back pain24.
Only the EG showed improvement of the VAS and Oswestry scores when comparing the pre and post-intervention results. In the comparison of the VAS and Oswestry results between the CG and the EG, there was no difference between before and after the kinesiotherapy and the Pilates exercises. A comparative study of the Pilates method and traditional exercises for the stabilization of the lumbar spine was conducted in the State of Tennessee, in the United States, in individuals with chronic lower back pain28. The interventions occurred twice a week, totaling 12 sessions of 30 to 45 minutes, and the groups had six participants in each session. The pain was assessed by the VAS using Oswestry to analyze the functional impairment. The results showed a difference between the beginning and the conclusion of treatment only in the Pilates group. However, there was no difference between the groups, corroborating the results of this study
Therapeutic exercises focusing on the stabilization of the lumbar spine, involving muscle strengthening and stretching in order to rebalance the tension of the muscle chains of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex may justify the positives results found in the EG in this study because the pain and the impairment faced by individuals with chronic lower back pain can be a result of muscle weakness, especially in the abdominal region and the low joint flexibility on the back and in the lower limbs29.
In addition, Pilates is among the several physical therapy resources able to reduce back pain and provide a functional re-education of this dysfunction, which may promote physical, mental and social well-being, encouraging the return to DLA and PLA30. Resistance exercise and dynamic stretching, associated with breathing during the execution of the exercises promote a uniform strengthening of the powerhouse muscles, providing more core-stabilization, thus being effective in the elimination of the painful low back syndrome31.
In a study conducted in Melbourne32, Australia, they compared an exercise program based on the Pilates method with a general exercise program in patients with chronic low back pain, between 18 and 70 years of age, for six weeks. They assessed the intensity of pain by the numeric scale and the functional impairment using the Quebec questionnaire. Eighty-three participants were randomized into two groups: The Pilates group with 41, and the exercise group with 42. The results showed a reduction in low back pain and improvements in the functional impairment in both groups, but with no statistical difference between them. Although the exercise is the physiotherapeutic resource with the best evidence15,16,28, it is not established in the literature which is the best method to handle chronic low back pain. Therefore, the Pilates method was not considered superior to the other forms of exercise, corroborating the present research.
This can be explained by the relation between the chronic back pain, the lack of physical knowledge, and the reduction of the neuromotor control. The general physical fitness and endogenous factors, such as the release of endorphins, can be associated with the pain modulation central mechanisms, acting on its perception. Thus, the therapeutic exercise can reduce the painful disorder and the consequent functional limitations33.
Other studies based on Pilates exercises directed to the treatment of chronic back pain were reported in the literature compared with control groups with none or minimum intervention34,35, or with a Back-School approach - an educational program which objective is to provide guidance on ergonomic posture to subjects with episodes of back pain36. This can be exemplified by a controlled and randomized study37 in which 39 subjects were divided into two groups, with ages between 20 and 55 years in Hong Kong, China. The experimental group worked with Pilates exercises for four weeks, in order to confirm its influence in reducing the pain of the participants, since low back pain may be related to a decreased joint mobility due to joint stiffening and changes in the ability of muscle recruitment. While the CG participants had only a medical follow-up in the same period. In this context, they noted a decrease in the level of pain in addition to a significant gain in muscle strength, stretching, and flexibility, determining the effectiveness of the Pilates exercises for the treatment of chronic low back pain when compared with the CG.
As to the application of postures, they recommended postures focusing on the muscle chains which were compromised in patients with low back pain. The postures applied to participants in some studies showed an improvement in the flexibility of the muscles that make up the respiratory chain, anterior, anterointernal hip chain, and the posterior chain14,16. With the extensibility gain in these muscle chains, by maintaining the stretching position while performing the Pilates postures, there is an increase in the number of serial sarcomeres and connective tissue remodeling, providing a gain in ROM and decreased muscle tension, which can also justify the improvement of pain and disability scores in the EG38,39.
The treatment with Pilates can vary in terms of frequency and duration of the sessions, with no consensus in the literature. This study was conducted during two sessions per week, for 40 minutes, totaling 12 sessions. Other studies followed the same frequency and duration with results similar to this study10,16. General stretching techniques, such as Pilates, applied twice or three times during 10 to 12 sessions, provided benefits regarding flexibility, the range of motion, pain reduction and improvement in the quality of life40.
The present study showed the importance of the Pilates exercises in the treatment of low back pain. Somehow, these exercises can improve the patient's painful picture, relieving pain and the functional limitations imposed on these individuals. However, limitations in the conduction of this research can be identified, such as the small sampling and loss of participants in both groups during the execution of the physiotherapeutic treatments.
CONCLUSION
This study showed that the Pilates method can be an effective tool for the physiotherapist in the management of patients with chronic low back pain to reduce pain and disability. However, when comparing with the CG subjects who had conventional physiotherapy activities in the same period, the Pilates method did not prove to be superior to the intensity of pain and functional impairment scores.
