Muscle Activation During Pilates Exercises in Participants With Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Case-Control Study

Abstract

Objective: To determine the amplitude of the electromyographic activity of trunk muscles during Pilates exercises in women with and without chronic low back pain (LBP).

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: University physical therapy clinic.

Participants: Women (N=60) divided into an LBP group and a control group.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main outcome measures: Amplitude of the electromyographic activity (root mean square values) of the gluteus maximus and external oblique muscles collected during 3 Pilates exercises: Shoulder Bridge performed on the mat, and Hip Roll and Breathing performed in equipment. Pain intensity was assessed in the LBP group.

Results: The amplitude of the electromyographic activity was similar between groups (P≥.05). For both groups, the amplitude of the gluteus maximus was higher in the Shoulder Bridge exercise compared with the Hip Roll with 2 springs (control group: mean difference [MD]=.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], .05-.41; LBP group: MD=.29; 95% CI, .16-.31) and the Breathing exercise (control group: MD=-.40; 95% CI, -.55 to -.26; LBP group: MD=-.36; 95% CI, -.52 to -.20). The amplitude of the external oblique muscle was higher in the Shoulder Bridge compared with the Hip Roll with 2 springs (control group: MD=.13; 95% CI, .05-.21; LBP group: MD=.18; 95% CI, .03-.33). Pain intensity increased after exercises, but this increase was lower for the mat exercises.

Conclusions: Similar muscle activation between groups was found. The findings suggest that mat exercises caused less pain and a greater difference in the amplitude of muscle activation compared with the equipment-based exercises.

Keywords: Electromyography; Exercise movement techniques; Low back pain; Rehabilitation.