Mat Pilates Versus General Exercises for Patients With Nonspecific Acute Low Back Pain

Mat Pilates vs. General Exercises for Acute Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Aim: To compare the effectiveness of Mat Pilates with General Exercises in treating patients with nonspecific acute low back pain.

Novelty: Pilates, typically performed with specific equipment, has shown clinically significant treatment effects in people with chronic low back pain. Recent guidelines recommend patients remain active during episodes of low back pain; however, evidence regarding the type of exercise to perform is limited. Mat Pilates is a type of Pilates exercise that does not require complex equipment. Evaluating the effectiveness of two simple exercise methods (Mat Pilates and General Exercises) can help expand intervention options for patients with acute low back pain, enabling them to choose an exercise they enjoy most.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged between 18 and 50 years old
• Acute nonspecific low back pain with at least 3 points on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
• Willing and able to provide informed consent
• Able to comply with the study protocol and attend all treatment sessions and follow-up assessments

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of specific low back pain causes, such as lumbar radiculopathy, spinal stenosis, or spondylolisthesis
• Previous spinal surgery
• Contraindications to exercise, such as severe cardiovascular or respiratory conditions
• Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study period
• Participation in another clinical trial or receiving concurrent experimental treatment for low back pain