Study Summary

52 adults with nonspecific chronic low back pain were randomized to receive DMA Clinical Pilates, general Pilates, or general exercise. The outcomes of interest included pain, function, disability, psychosocial well-being, hamstrings flexibility, lumbar flexion flexibility, and single-leg squat biomechanical performance. Biomechanical outcomes included measures of sway, force variance, squat depth, squat duration, and balance control. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, Week 6, and Week 12. Overall, the results of the study demonstrated that DMA Clinical Pilates produced significantly greater improvements in pain, function, disability, hamstrings flexibility, and several biomechanical measures compared with both general Pilates and general exercise. These findings suggest that individualized DMA Clinical Pilates based on movement preference is more effective than standard Pilates or general exercise for managing nonspecific chronic low back pain.