Exercícios de Pilates prescritos com alta versus baixa intensidade em pacientes com dor lombar crônica

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Low back pain is one of the main causes of disability and absenteeism from work. In addition to disability, studies have shown that patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain (CLBP) also have kinesiophobia and muscle weakness of the hip abductors and extensors. The Pilates method is a therapeutic option for treating individuals with CLBP. Only one study addresses its long-term effects and the ideal therapeutic dose in this population, related to weekly frequency. There is a scarcity of information about other exercise parameters, such as ideal intensity. OBJECTIVE: To compare high versus low/moderate intensity Pilates exercises in improving pain and disability in individuals with CLBP. METHODS: This is a randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups. The study was carried out in the Pilates Laboratory at the Federal University of Ceará (UFC) in Fortaleza – Brazil. A total of 168 patients aged between 18 and 60 years who had nonspecific chronic low back pain for 12 weeks or more were included. Participants were allocated into two groups: 1) low/moderate intensity Pilates (n=90) or 2) high intensity Pilates (n=78). RESULTS: There was no significant statistically difference between groups for any of the outcomes. Except for muscle strength in the left hip, there was a significant difference pre- and post-intervention for both groups in the evaluated outcomes. CONCLUSION: Controlling the intensity parameter in Pilates exercises did not influence the effectiveness of the intervention in patients with CLBP.