Effects of Adding Abdominal Bracing after Aparatus-Based Pilates on Pain and Trunk Strength in Adult Women with Non-specific Chronic Low Back Pain: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Key Points

• The study aims to evaluate the effects of adding abdominal bracing to apparatus-based Pilates on pain and trunk strength in women with chronic low back pain.
• Pilot randomized controlled trial conducted with 13 adult women with non-specific chronic low back pain.
• Participants were divided into an experimental group (Pilates + abdominal bracing) and a control group (Pilates only).
• Both groups underwent an 8-week intervention with sessions twice a week.
• Pain levels and trunk strength (flexion and extension) were measured before and after the intervention.
• Both groups experienced pain reduction, but the experimental group showed a significantly greater decrease in pain (p=0.003).
• Trunk strength increased significantly only in the experimental group, though the interaction between measurement time and group was not significant.
• Functional improvement in lumbar function was significantly greater in the experimental group.

Abstract