Pilates as a Therapeutic Approach for Mechanical Low Back Pain in School Teachers: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Mechanical low back pain (LBP) is one of the most widespread musculoskeletal disorders among educators that is primarily caused by prolonged standing, insufficient ergonomics and repetitive postural stress. It reduces the quality of life and work productivity. Pilates exercises involving focus on the flexibility, posture, and core strengthening have been recently a subject of interest as a rehabilitation method that has proved successful in treating mechanical LBP.

Purpose: This research was to determine the effect of Pilates exercises on the functional disability and extent of pain in over 40 years old female school teachers with mechanical low back pain.

Methods: School teachers (15 female) aged older than 40 years with longer than two months of mechanical lower back pain were involved in an experimental study. The participants were given a structured and under-supervised Pilates program in 10 consecutive days. Functional disability and pain intensity preintervention and postintervention were measured with the help of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS), respectively. Paired t-tests were used to analyse the data.

Results: The mean VAS score, which was 4.73 3.00 x 1.16, and the mean RMDQ score, which was 9.60 5.87 x 3.78, significantly decreased (p < 0.001). Individuals with a normal BMI had better functional improvement compared to individuals with an overweight or obese one (p = 0.018).

Conclusion: The findings show that a short Pilates exercise regime is effective to reduce the level of pain and functional disability in female school teachers with mechanical low back pain. It is possible to recommend that pilates is a safe, feasible, and non-pharmacological approach to occupational LBP management among educators as a rehabilitation strategy.