Effects of Pilates with and without Elastic Resistance on Health Variables in Postmenopausal Women with Low Back Pain

Abstract

Aim: To compare the effects of Pilates with and without accessories on biochemical markers, pain intensity, functional disability and muscle strength in postmenopausal women with nonspecific chronic low back pain. Materials & methods: Twenty-two participants were randomized to a group of Pilates without (PG; n = 11) and with elastic resistance (PAG; n = 11) for 8 weeks, twice a week. We analyzed IGF-1, IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), cortisol, creatine kinase, pain intensity, functional disability, abdominal and back strengths. Results: Both groups had lower pain intensity and functional disability and increased lumbar strength postinterventions. PAG exhibited an increase in IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio and reduction in creatine kinase compared with PG. Conclusion: Both interventions were effective in the treatment of low back pain. However, PAG presented better responses than PG.

Clinical Trial Registration: Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry: ReBEC (RBR-9jwcykc), www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-9jwcykc

Plain language summary

Pilates is a type of exercise that has been practiced, both in health promotion and rehabilitation, including low back pain (LBP) treatment. LBP prevails in women after menopause when compared with men. Thus, we submitted postmenopausal women with chronic LBP to two groups, one that practiced Pilates with elastic resistance and the other without these accessories. These elastic bands of progressive tension increase the effort of the exercise performed. We analyzed biochemical markers, pain intensity, functional disability and muscle strength. After 8 weeks, both groups had lower pain intensity and functional disability and increased lumbar strength. Furthermore, the group that used elastic resistance during the training showed increase in IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio and reduction in creatine kinase compared with the other group.

Keywords::

• chronic pain
• creatine kinase
• exercise
• hormones
• IGF-1
• low back pain
• menopause
• pain management
• rehabilitation
• spine

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to all volunteers who engaged in this study.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations. In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.

Data sharing statement

The authors certify that this manuscript reports original clinical trial data (RBR-9jwcykc). Individual, deidentified participant data will be available as well as sample characterization data, the study protocol and the statistical analysis plan. Data will be available from December 2021 by request to the journal or the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.