Study Summary

Thirty-two patients with chronic low back pain were randomized to receive self-myofascial release combined with reformer Pilates or reformer Pilates alone. The outcomes of interest were pain visual analogue scale (VAS), the Korean Oswestry Disability Index (KODI), muscle mechanical properties (tone and stiffness), flexibility (sit-and-reach test), muscular endurance (supine bridge test), and quality of life assessed via the European quality of life 5 dimensions 5 levels version (EQ-5D-5L). Outcomes were assessed before and after 6 weeks of intervention. Overall, the results of the study revealed that both groups significantly improved in pain, muscle function, and quality of life, with the combined intervention demonstrating greater improvements in disability, muscle stiffness, and flexibility. These findings suggest that adding self-myofascial release to Pilates may enhance rehabilitation outcomes in women with chronic low back pain.