Pilates Method in Helicopter Pilots With Low Back Pain

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Low Back Pain
• Interventions: Other: Pilates Group

• Registration Number: NCT05401513
• Lead Sponsor: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of an exercise program, based on the Pilates method, on the low back pain and muscle fatigue of Brazilian Air Force helicopter pilots.

Detailed Description

Methods: This is a randomized controlled trial composed by Brazilian Air Force helicopter instructors. The volunteers will be submitted to an initial evaluation composed by painful sensation, analyzed through the Numerical Pain Scale, disability associated with low back pain, using the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire, and back muscle fatigue, through the Ito test. The pilots will be randomly assigned to the Exercise Group (exercise program based on the Pilates method, twice a week for 12 weeks) and Control Group (no intervention). After the sixth and 12th week of the beginning of the intervention program a new evaluation will be carried out, identical to the initial one.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-05-29
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-05-29
• Status Verified: 2022-06
• Study First Posted: 2022-06-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-06-02
• Last Update Posted: 2022-06-06
• Study Start: 2022-06-20
• Primary Completion: 2022-09-30
• Study Completion: 2022-11-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 16

Inclusion Criteria

• Brazilian Air Force helicopter instructors - Natal Air Base;
• Nonspecific low back pain for more than 3 months with a score of 2 or more at Numerical Pain Rating Scale.

Exclusion Criteria

• Be undergoing physiotherapeutic treatment during the study period;
• Corticosteroids treatment in the last two weeks;
• Anti-inflammatory treatment in the previous 72 hours;
• Have specific spinal pathologies, such as spondylitis, spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis, disc herniation with radiculopathy or those who have had spinal surgery in the last year or who have a recent history of spinal fracture.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Pilates Group	Pilates Group	12-weeks exercise program, twice a week, with Pilates method exercises.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Painful sensation	Change from baseline in low back pain sensation at 6 weeks and 12 weeks after the intervention protocol	To compare the painful sensation in the lumbar region using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) across a range of 11, with 0 being described as 'no pain' and 10 as 'worst possible pain'.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Back muscle fatigue	Change from baseline in back muscle fatigue at 6 weeks and 12 weeks after the intervention protocol	Measure the back muscular resistance to fatigue using the Ito test
Functional disability associated to back pain	Change from baseline in disability at 6 weeks and 12 weeks after the intervention protocol	To analyze the self-report low back pain disability through the Roland Morris Disability questionnaire.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte; 🇧🇷 Natal, RN, Brazil