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September 2, 2026Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation

Efficacy of Pilates on chronic low back pain in women: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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Authors

JZJiaxing ZhangYSYa Su

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Overview

Systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrates reduced pain and improved physical function in women practicing Pilates, indicating broad therapeutic benefit.

Key Points

  • To evaluate the efficacy of Pilates exercise on pain and physical function in women with chronic low back pain, with a specific focus on postmenopausal status.
  • Systematic review and meta-analysis searching PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PEDro, and CINAHL through April 2026 for randomized controlled trials comparing Pilates to no intervention or other therapies in women with chronic low back pain.
  • Pooled standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using a random-effects model, alongside subgroup analyses stratified by age, follow-up duration, and region.
  • Risk of bias was assessed using the NIH Quality Assessment Tool, with sensitivity analyses conducted via the leave-one-out method and publication bias evaluated using funnel plots and Egger's test.
  • Pilates led to significant overall reductions in pain (SMD -1.88, 95% CI -2.46 to -1.31) and improvements in physical function (SMD -1.08, 95% CI -1.43 to -0.74).
  • Postmenopausal women experienced significant pain relief (SMD -2.07, 95% CI -2.90 to -1.25) and functional improvement (SMD -1.11, 95% CI -1.53 to -0.70; P < 0.001).
  • Non-menopausal women also achieved significant pain reduction (SMD -1.58, 95% CI -2.13 to -1.03) and functional gains (SMD -1.03, 95% CI -1.75 to -0.31; P < 0.001).

Cite This Study

Zhang et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a97e2eac562ede874ec7604https://doi.org/10.1177/10538127261483829
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Impact of 8-Week Pilates Program on Lumbar Flexion–Relaxation Dynamics and Functional Outcomes in Women with Chronic Low Back Pain2026 · 1 citations
  2. 2Pregnancy-Related Spinal Biomechanics: A Review of Low Back Pain and Degenerative Spine Disease2025 · 10 citations
  3. 3Effect of Pilates Exercises on Pain, Endurance, Quality‐of‐Life, and Disability in Postmenopausal Women With Low Back Pain2025 · 9 citations
  4. 4Low Back Pain and Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnancy2015 · 215 citations
  5. 5Effects of Pilates Matwork Core Exercises on Functioning in Middle-Aged Adult Women with Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain Through Flexion Relaxation Phenomenon Analysis: A Pilot RCT2025 · 1 citations