CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT05992766Updated Oct 8, 2024

The Effect of Traditional Mat Exercises Versus Reformer Pilates and Hammock Yoga on Chronic Back Pain

An interventional study of Reformer Pilates and Hammock Yoga in Low Back Pain, sponsored by Hasan Kalyoncu University. Completed at 1 site in Turkey. Open to participants aged 25 Years to 60 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-10-08.

Sponsored by Hasan Kalyoncu University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 1 year 3 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Apr 2022, registered Aug 2023).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
60
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
25 Years to 60 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of traditional mat exercises, Reformer Pilates and Hammock Yoga approaches on pain, endurance, balance, disability, and quality of life of individuals who had Chronic Back Pain.

Read the detailed description

Low back pain is among the leading musculoskeletal problems worldwide causing serious health expenditures. It can affect people of all ages in the community, but it is common in individuals between the fourth and fifth decades of life. Low back pain is divided into 3 subclasses according to the duration of the symptoms as Acute (lasting only a few weeks), Subacute (lasting about 6 to 12 weeks), and Chronic (lasting more than 12 weeks).Traditional exercise approaches are frequently used modalities in the treatment of Chronic Back Pain as an extremely valuable approach to preventing movement limitation, controlling existing pain, and regaining motor functions. Pilates exercises are very valuable for the treatment of low back pain because they provide stabilization. Pilates activates the lumbopelvic muscles and supports functional movement as an effective factor in reducing pain. Yoga is also a mind-body exercise discipline that includes both physical and mental aspects of pain with core strengthening, flexibility, relaxation, and breathing modalities.When the literature was reviewed, no study was detected examining the effectiveness of Hammock Yoga and Reformer Pilates in people who have Chronic Back Pain and compares it with traditional mat exercises.

02

Conditions studied

  • Low Back Pain

Keywords

  • Chronic Back Pain
  • Reformer Pilates
  • Hammock Yoga
  • Physical Fitness
  • Quality of Life
03

In context

Back Pain

2,373 studies on the registry are indexed under Back Pain; 284 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 60 is close to the median of 60 across 1,941 interventional studies indexed under Back Pain.

Browse Back Pain studies →

Lead sponsor

Hasan Kalyoncu University is the lead sponsor of 161 studies on the registry; 32 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
25 Years to 60 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Being within the 25-60 age range
  • Having low back pain in the last 6 months .

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • The history of surgery in the lumbar region in the last 1 year,
  • Diagnosed radiculopathy,
  • Systemic diseases
  • Malignancy,
  • Performed regular physical activity,
  • Using steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs in the physiotherapy program
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
60 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Reformer Pilates

    Reformer Pilates were performed, 2 days a week, for 4 weeks, in a total of 8 sessions (45 minutes each). The exercises of the Reformer Pilates were given as individual sessions by the physiotherapist. Reformer Exercises were explained by the physiotherapist in detail to understand the movement and starting position correctly, and the participants were then asked to perform the movements.

    Other: Reformer Pilates

  • Experimental
    Hammach Yoga

    Hammock Yoga were performed, 2 days a week, for 4 weeks, in a total of 8 sessions (45 minutes each). Hammock Yoga were given as individual sessions by the physiotherapist.

    Other: Hammock Yoga

  • Active comparator
    Mat

    Traditional mat exercises were performed, 2 days a week, for 4 weeks, in a total of 8 sessions (45 minutes each). The mat exercises were applied as a home program. The exercises were visually given with detailed explanations on a piece of paper, and they were checked by telephone every week.

    Other: Traditional mat exercises

Interventions

  • OtherReformer Pilates

    Reformer Pilates exercises activates the lumbopelvic muscles and supports functional movement. Activated muscles support the spine and reduce the load on the spine by correcting the posture, helping the core muscles such as the abdomen and spine stay healthier by attaching them to a neutral pelvis Pilates consists of a sliding platform working with the help of a pulley system specific to the use, allowing the individual to apply certain resistances, and providing the opportunity to exercise sitting, standing, or lying down.

  • OtherHammock Yoga

    Hammock Yoga is performed with a silk hammock, which is an auxiliary equipment. The most distinctive characteristic that makes Hammock Yoga different from other exercises is the spine traction provided by the upside-down posture, and the smooth and shiny silk hammock allows strengthening exercises. The Hammock Yoga aims to reduce the load on the spine by upside-down postures that defy the laws of physics.

  • OtherTraditional mat exercises

    The mat exercises help build core strength, stamina, and motor control of the abdominal and lumbar trunk musculature. The exercises focus on the re-education of a precise co-contraction pattern of local muscles of the spine. Also mat exercise increases the level of endorphins and the stimulation of mechanoreceptors, causing biomechanical stress to support healing in tissues.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain characteristics

    McGill Short Form was used at the beginning and end of the study to evaluate the qualitative characteristics of pain. The scale helps to learn about the sensory, emotional, and intensity component of pain. Fifteen items in the scale help define pain (11 sensory descriptors and 4 emotional descriptors). The participants were asked to rate their pain as 0=none, 1=less, 2=moderate, and 3=extreme, according to the intensity level. The total score was obtained by summing the scores given.

    Time frame: 4 weeks

  2. Disability

    Disability (e.g., walking, sitting, standing, pain intensity, and sleeping) were evaluated with the Oswestry Disability Index, which consisted of 10 sections. A total score was obtained by scoring a Likert-type design ( 0-5 in each section). An increase in the score indicated an increased disability

    Time frame: 4 weeks

  3. Quality of Life

    The World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQOL-Bref) Questionnaire was used to evaluate the quality of life. The questionnaire has 5 sections (Psychological Health, Physical Health, General Health, Social Relations, and Environmental Health).An increase in the score indicated an increased Quality of Life.

    Time frame: 4 weeks

  4. Pain intensity

    A Visual Analog Scale was used to evaluate pain intensity. This scale is a straight horizontal line of fixed length, usually 100 mm. Using a ruler, the score is determined by measuring the distance (mm) on the 10-cm line between the "no pain" anchor and the patient's mark, providing a range of scores from 0-100. A higher score indicates greater pain intensity.

    Time frame: 4 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Core Muscle Endurance Test

    The forward plank test was used to measure the control and endurance of the back/core stabilizing muscles.The aim of this test was to hold an elevated position for as long as possible. Start with the upper body supported off the ground by the elbows and forearms, and the legs straight with the weight taken by the toes. The hip was lifted off the floor creating a straight line from head to toe. As soon as the subject was in the correct position, the stopwatch was started and time was recorded

    Time frame: 4 weeks

  2. Static Balance Test

    The static balance was evaluated with single leg stance test. The participants were asked to pull their knees towards the abdomen and maintain this position while keeping their hands on their waists without disturbing the neutral pelvis (22). The time that passed until the position was broken was calculated and this test was repeated three times in total for both the right and left legs, and the maximum time was recorded in seconds.

    Time frame: 4 weeks

  3. Hip Muscle Endurance Test

    The Single Leg Bridge Test was used to measure hip muscles endurance;The participants were asked to go to the bridge position with their supine hands-free at their sides and hips in the air, and while they were in this position, they were asked to keep the hip and knee flexion of the tested side and take the other leg into the air with the sole on the ground, and maintain the neutral position of the pelvis. When the test position was taken, the stopwatch was started and recorded the time until the participant broke the pelvis position.

    Time frame: 4 weeks

  4. Dynamic Balance Test

    The dynamic balance was evaluated with the Star Excursion Balance Test. A total of 8 lines (anterolateral, anterior, anteromedial, medial, posteromedial, posterior, posterolateral, and lateral) of 1m length were drawn on a flat surface at 45 degree their centers converging. The individuals were then asked to reach the farthest point possible in each line with the tip of the other foot and the foot to be tested in the middle of the star. A resting period of 5 seconds was given after each stretch. If the balance was disturbed while reaching, the participants could not touch the lines, or gave full weight with their feet, the attempt was rejected and repeated. The distances that the individuals could reach and touch were recorded, and the test was repeated 3 times to record the maximum score.

    Time frame: 4 weeks

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Hasan Kalyoncu University
    Gaziantep, None Selected 27144, Turkey
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Sorosky S, Stilp S, Akuthota V. Yoga and pilates in the management of low back pain. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2008 Mar;1(1):39-47. doi: 10.1007/s12178-007-9004-1. PubMed 19468897 ↗
  • Sherman KJ, Cherkin DC, Wellman RD, Cook AJ, Hawkes RJ, Delaney K, Deyo RA. A randomized trial comparing yoga, stretching, and a self-care book for chronic low back pain. Arch Intern Med. 2011 Dec 12;171(22):2019-26. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.524. Epub 2011 Oct 24. PubMed 22025101 ↗
  • Rydeard R, Leger A, Smith D. Pilates-based therapeutic exercise: effect on subjects with nonspecific chronic low back pain and functional disability: a randomized controlled trial. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2006 Jul;36(7):472-84. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2006.2144. PubMed 16881464 ↗
  • Zhu F, Zhang M, Wang D, Hong Q, Zeng C, Chen W. Yoga compared to non-exercise or physical therapy exercise on pain, disability, and quality of life for patients with chronic low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PLoS One. 2020 Sep 1;15(9):e0238544. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238544. eCollection 2020. PubMed 32870936 ↗
  • Lim EC, Poh RL, Low AY, Wong WP. Effects of Pilates-based exercises on pain and disability in individuals with persistent nonspecific low back pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2011 Feb;41(2):70-80. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2011.3393. Epub 2010 Oct 22. PubMed 20972339 ↗
  • Pereira LM, Obara K, Dias JM, Menacho MO, Guariglia DA, Schiavoni D, Pereira HM, Cardoso JR. Comparing the Pilates method with no exercise or lumbar stabilization for pain and functionality in patients with chronic low back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Rehabil. 2012 Jan;26(1):10-20. doi: 10.1177/0269215511411113. Epub 2011 Aug 19. PubMed 21856719 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Oct 8, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05992766
Lead sponsor
Hasan Kalyoncu University
Responsible party
Serkan Usgu (Ass Prof, Hasan Kalyoncu University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Aug 15, 2023
Start date
Apr 13, 2022
Primary completion
Dec 5, 2022
Completion
Jan 11, 2023
Last update
Oct 8, 2024

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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