The effect of reformer pilates and multi-gravitational suspension based exercises on pain, endurance, balance, disability and quality of life in individuals with chronic low back pain

This study has been designed with the aim of analyzing the effects of reformer pilates and multi-gravitational suspension-based exercises on pain, endurance, balance, disability and quality of life in individuals with chronic low back pain. 60 individuals between the ages of 25 and 60 living in Gaziantep, who had low back pain and applied to our clinic to exercise, participated in the study. Individuals have been divided into three groups by closed-envelope randomization method. Reformer pilates group participants (n=20, mean age; 31.85±8.89 years, body weight; 67.75±18.75 kg, height; 166.15±10.85 cm, BMI; 24.27±4.39 kg/m2), multi-gravitational suspension based exercises group (n=20, mean age; 29.90±6.70 years, body weight; 60.85±12.72 kg, height; 164.00±6.49 cm, BMI; 22.58±4.14 kg/m2), home exercise control group (n=20, mean age; 30.40±8.21 years, body weight; 67.80±14.49 kg, height; 165.25±6.74 cm, BMI: 24.76±4.66 kg/m2) participants have done their (10 minutes of warm-up, 30 minutes of strength training, 10 munites of cool-down) workout sessions, twice a week for 4 weeks. Participants' pain was evaluated with VAS total of 5 times, including before and after the study. Participants' endurance by the trunk anterior flexor test, trunk posterior extansor test, supine bridge test and right and left side bridge test, static balance by the single-leg standing test, dynamic balance by Star Excursion Balance test, disability due to low back pain with the Oswestry Disability Index and their quality of life; WHOQOL-Bref evaluated at the beginning and the end of the study. VAS, McGill, balance and endurance test scores, Oswestry, WHOQOL scores improved throughout the study in all our groups (p<0,05). The hammock group showed less improvement in the McGill questionnaire score than the home exercise group and the Oswestry Disability questionnaire score showed less improvement than the other two groups (p<0,05). Right side is in the Star Excursion Balance test; in the hammock and reformer group, anterior and posterior balance improved more than the home group and in posteromedial and posterolateral balance, the reformer group improved more than the home exercise group. Lateral balance, the hammock group improved more than the home group (p<0,05). Left side is in the Star Excursion Balance test; the anterior balance of the hammock and reformer group improved more than the home group. In the posterior and lateral balance, the reformer group showed more improvement than the home exercise group. In the anteromedial balance, the hammock group improved more than the home group (p<0,05). While the reformer group showed more improvement in static balance on the right side than the home group, the reformer group on the left side improved the static balance more than both the home group and the hammock group (p<0,05). The prone plank score increased more in the reformer group than in the hammock group (p<0,05). The supine bridge right side score increased less in the home group compared to the other groups (p<0,05). Trunk flexion test score improved more in the hammock and reformer group than in the home exercise group (p<0,05). Reformer and home exercise programs can be included primarily in reducing chronic low back pain and disability. In terms of improving balance and endurance, reformer pilates and hammock yoga can be preferred over each other in individual-based exercise programmes. Keywords: Reformer pilates, multi-gravitational suspension-based exercises (hammock yoga), chronic low back pain