The Effectiveness of Pilates in Women With Lumbar Disc Herniation

NCT07261020 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Uskudar77
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of the study was to compare the effects of reformer pilates and mat exercise on pain, quality of life and kinesiophobia in female patients with lumbar disc herniation.

Conditions

Disc Herniation; Kinesiophobia; Low Back Pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• quality of life scale short form

  The scale assessing quality of life consists of 36 questions. It rates health on a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 indicating poor health and 100 indicating good health.

  10 weeks

• Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale

  The scale consists of 17 questions. It includes parameters for injury/re-injury and fear-avoidance in work-related activities. Each question is scored using a 4-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 4 = strongly agree). A total score is calculated by reverse-scoring questions 4, 8, 12, and 16. A higher score is interpreted as indicating a higher level of kinesiophobia.

  10 weeks

Study Arms (2)

mat exercise group

EXPERIMENTAL

mat pilates exercise

Other: mat pilates

reformer exercise group

EXPERIMENTAL

reformer pilates exercise

Other: reformer pilates

Interventions

mat pilates OTHER

The mat pilates group was given an exercise program consisting of 16 sessions, 2 days a week, for 8 weeks. All exercises were performed as one set of 15 repetitions for the first 2 weeks, 15 repetitions for the 3rd and 4th weeks, and 15 repetitions for the 5th and 6th weeks, with 20 repetitions for the final 2 weeks. Exercise intensity (number of repetitions and level of movement) was gradually increased. Priority was given to core muscles when selecting exercises. The aim was to work the transversus abdominis, multifidus, and gluteus muscles both eccentrically and concentrically, while maintaining spinal stabilization and fostering awareness during movement. The exercise protocol was performed twice a week for 8 weeks, with each session lasting 45 minutes.

mat exercise group

reformer pilates OTHER

The Reformer Pilates group was assigned an exercise program consisting of 16 sessions, 2 days a week, for 8 weeks. All exercises were performed as one set of 15 repetitions for the first 2 weeks, 15 repetitions for the 3rd and 4th weeks, and 20 repetitions for the 5th and 6th weeks. Exercise intensity (number of repetitions and level of movement) was gradually increased. Priority was given to core muscles when selecting exercises. The aim was to work the transversus abdominis, multifidus, and gluteus muscles both eccentrically and concentrically, while maintaining spinal stabilization and fostering awareness during movement. The exercise protocol consisted of 45-minute sessions, 2 days a week, for 8 weeks.

reformer exercise group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 25 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Being between 25 and 60 years of age
• Having been diagnosed with a lumbar disc herniation
• Having agreed to participate in the study

You may not qualify if:

• Being outside the specified age limits
• Having an orthopedic, neurological, or other condition that prevents exercise

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Uskudar University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Fone Physio Healthy Living Center

Istanbul, Kadıköy, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Franks J, Thwaites C, Morris ME. Pilates to Improve Core Muscle Activation in Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review. Healthcare (Basel). 2023 May 12;11(10):1404. doi: 10.3390/healthcare11101404.

  PMID: 37239690 BACKGROUND

• Li Y, Yan L, Hou L, Zhang X, Zhao H, Yan C, Li X, Li Y, Chen X, Ding X. Exercise intervention for patients with chronic low back pain: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Front Public Health. 2023 Nov 17;11:1155225. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1155225. eCollection 2023.

  PMID: 38035307 BACKGROUND

• Fernandez-Rodriguez R, Alvarez-Bueno C, Cavero-Redondo I, Torres-Costoso A, Pozuelo-Carrascosa DP, Reina-Gutierrez S, Pascual-Morena C, Martinez-Vizcaino V. Best Exercise Options for Reducing Pain and Disability in Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain: Pilates, Strength, Core-Based, and Mind-Body. A Network Meta-analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2022 Aug;52(8):505-521. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2022.10671. Epub 2022 Jun 19.

  PMID: 35722759 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Intervertebral Disc Displacement; Kinesiophobia; Low Back Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Spinal Diseases; Bone Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Hernia; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Phobic Disorders; Anxiety Disorders; Mental Disorders; Back Pain; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Ayça Bilgi

  Uskudar University

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assoc.Prof.Dr.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 21, 2025
• First Posted: December 3, 2025
• Study Start: January 5, 2024
• Primary Completion: March 15, 2024
• Study Completion: May 10, 2024
• Last Updated: December 29, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)