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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03609554

Improvements in Adolescents With Back Pain After Pilates

The main physical condition factor related to back pain and mobility among adolescents are trunk endurance and hamstring extensibility. The Pilates Method (PM) can be used as a specific exercise technique to train trunk endurance and hamstring extensibility, but there is little evidence regarding its effect in adolescents with a history of back pain. The objective of this study is to determine whether Pilates is effective for improving the trunk endurance and hamstring extensibility of adolescents with a history of back pain and to determine the differences between the sexes. The sample was composed of 52 students with a mean age of 14.44 ± 0.7 years who had suffered back pain during the past year. They were distributed into the Pilates Exercise Group (PEG, n = 26) and the Control Group (CG, n = 26). The Pilates programme was conducted over 6 weeks. For measuring trunk flexion and extension endurance, the bench trunk curl (BTC) test and the Sorensen (SOR) test were used, respectively. Hamstring extensibility was measured with the toe touch (TT) test. After the Pilates intervention, either the whole sample or males and females separately improved significantly (p ≤ 0.05) in the BTC, SOR or TT test.

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Key information

Conditions

Back Pain Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

13 year–16 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

Back pain during the adolescent years is a precursor to chronic back pain in adulthood. The prevalence of back pain among schoolchildren is growing across the world, and it is similar to that of the adult population. Back pain is the first cause of disability in the world.

The main physical condition factor related to back pain and mobility among adolescents are trunk endurance and hamstring extensibility. The Pilates Method (PM) can be used as a specific exercise technique to train trunk endurance and hamstring extensibility, but there is little evidence regarding its effect in adolescents with a history of back pain.

The objectives of this study was: a) to analyse the effect of a Pilates programme on trunk endurance and extensibility in adolescents with a history of back pain and b) to determine the differences between the sexes.

The present research was a 6-week randomised controlled trial in which adolescents with a history of back pain were randomly assigned to a Pilates-based exercise group (PEG; n = 26) and a control group (CG; n = 26).

The sample was composed of 52 students with a mean age of 14.44 ± 0.7 years who had suffered back pain during the past year. They were distributed into the Pilates Exercise Group (PEG, n = 26) and the Control Group (CG, n = 26).

The Pilates exercise programme was implemented over 6 weeks, with 2 sessions/week (55 minutes/session). Adolescents assigned to the CG did not receive any structured exercise programme; they just attended their usual Physical Education sessions.

The Pilates programme was conducted by the Physical Education teacher, who was certified in Pilates training. The Pilates programme began at the basic level, incorporating more difficult principles and exercises gradually.

For measuring trunk flexion and extension endurance, the bench trunk curl (BTC) test and the Sorensen (SOR) test were used, respectively. Hamstring extensibility was measured with the toe touch (TT) test. After the Pilates intervention, either the whole sample or males and females separately improved significantly (p ≤ 0.05) in the BTC, SOR or TT test.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • having had a history of back pain last year
  • being physically active in school physical education sessions

Exclusion criteria

  • presenting any musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiological, metabolic or rheumatic alteration
  • missing more than one session of the programme (91.66% attendance)

Treatment and study plan

Pilates

Other

The Pilates exercise programme was implemented over 6 weeks, with 2 sessions/week (55 minutes/session). The Pilates programme was conducted by the Physical Education teacher, who was certified in Pilates training. The Pilates programme began at the basic level, incorporating more difficult principles and exercises gradually. The sessions were divided into the warm-up (7 min), the main part (41 min), and the cool down (7 min). Tt concentrated on basic Pilates exercises involving the principal regions of the body (spine flexions, extensions and rotations; hip flexions, extensions and rotations; and shoulder abductions, adductions and rotations).

Primary outcomes

  1. Trunk flexor endurance

    Time frame: Pre and Post-intervention: change after 6 weeks of intervention

    The bench trunk curl (BTC) test was used to evaluate trunk flexor endurance. The result is register in repetitions numbers. Higher values represent a better outcome.

  2. Isometric trunk extension

    Time frame: Pre and Post-intervention: change after 6 weeks of intervention

    Isometric trunk extension endurance was measured using the Sorensen (SOR) test. The result is register in seconds. Higher values represent a better outcome.

  3. Hamstring extensibility

    Time frame: Pre and Post-intervention: change after 6 weeks of intervention

    The toe touch (TT) test was used to evaluate hamstring extensibility. The result is register in centimeters. Higher values represent a better outcome.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Weight

    Time frame: Pre and Post-intervention: change after 6 weeks of intervention

    Weight was measured using a SECA 762 scale (SECA, Germany) in kilograms.

  2. Height

    Time frame: Pre and Post-intervention: change after 6 weeks of intervention

    Height was measured using a GPM anthropometer (Siber-Hegner, Switzerland) in meters.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Improvement in Adolescents With a History of Back Pain After Pilates

Acronym: PilatesBack

Important dates

Study start
2016
Primary completion
2017
Study completion
2017
First posted
Aug 1, 2018
Registry last updated
Aug 1, 2018

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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