Effects of a Mat Pilates Exercise Program Associated with Photobiomodulation Therapy in Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Trial
Jeanne Karlette Merlo,
Adriano Valmozino da Silva,
Juliano Casonatto,
Alex Silva Ribeiro,
Eros de Oliveira Junior,
Ana Paula do Nascimento,
Raphael Gonçalves de Oliveira,
Cosme Franklim Buzzachera,
Rubens Alexandre da Silva,
Andreo Fernando Aguiar
Affiliations
Jeanne Karlette Merlo
Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Northern University of Paraná (UNOPAR), Londrina 86041-120, PR, Brazil
Adriano Valmozino da Silva
Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Northern University of Paraná (UNOPAR), Londrina 86041-120, PR, Brazil
Juliano Casonatto
Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Northern University of Paraná (UNOPAR), Londrina 86041-120, PR, Brazil
Alex Silva Ribeiro
Postgraduate Program in Physical Exercise in Health Promotion, Northern University of Paraná (UNOPAR), Londrina 86041-120, PR, Brazil
Eros de Oliveira Junior
Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Northern University of Paraná (UNOPAR), Londrina 86041-120, PR, Brazil
Ana Paula do Nascimento
Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Northern University of Paraná (UNOPAR), Londrina 86041-120, PR, Brazil
Raphael Gonçalves de Oliveira
Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Northern University of Paraná (UNOPAR), Londrina 86041-120, PR, Brazil
Cosme Franklim Buzzachera
Department of Public Health, Experimental Medicine and Forensic Science, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Rubens Alexandre da Silva
Program de Physiothérapie de L’université McGill Offert en Extension à L’UNIVERSITÉ du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC), Québec, QC G7H 5B8, Canada
Andreo Fernando Aguiar
Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Northern University of Paraná (UNOPAR), Londrina 86041-120, PR, Brazil
Objective: To investigate the effects of combining a Pilates program with photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNLBP). Methods: Thirty-eight adults with CNLBP were randomly assigned to two groups: Pilates exercise + active PBMT (PIL + PBMT) or Pilates exercise + sham PBMT (PIL + SHAM). Both groups performed an 8-week mat Pilates program and received PBMT on their lumbar muscles 10 min before and after each session. The following variables were assessed before and after intervention: peak pain intensity, postural balance (i.e., center of the pressure [A-COP], velocity anteroposterior [Vel AP], and velocity mediolateral [Vel ML]), perceived disability (i.e., Oswestry Disability Index [ODI] and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire [RMDQ]), and pain-related fear of movement (i.e., Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia [TSK], Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire [FABQ], and Pain Catastrophizing Scale [PCS]). Results: Postural balance variables showed no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) across time or between groups. The groups showed similar (p p > 0.05) in TSK and FABQ scores. Conclusion: The mat Pilates program reduced peak pain intensity, perceived disability, and pain catastrophizing in adults with CNLBP, but PBMT had no additional effect on these variables. Mat Pilates alone or combined with PBMT was not able to improve postural balance.