The effect of Pilates exercises with and without antioxidants on pain, disability and endurance of flexor and extensor muscles in female teachers with non-specific chronic back pain
Subject Areas :
Ali
Moradi
1
Dawood Darvish
Bechari
2
Behnam
Hajili Davaji
3
Mohammad
Barati
4
Parveen
Ashna
5
Sima Saffari
Saffari
6
Keywords:
Abstract :
the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Pilates training with and without consumption of antioxidants on pain, weakness and endurance of flexor and extensor muscles in female teachers with non-specific chronic back pain. The statistical sample of the research included 30 women suffering from non-specific chronic back pain purposefully selected and randomly assigned to three groups: Pilates without antioxidant, Pilates with antioxidant and control (10 people in each group). The intervention groups participated in a course of 8-week program, while the control group received no intervention and had their normal routine activities. The Pilates training protocol included six components: warming up, strengthening the abdominal muscles, control and excitability of the spine, lateral stabilization, shoulder stabilization and back strengthening, as well as hip stabilization and thigh endurance. Antioxidant consumption was in the form of daily consumption of one multi-daily capsule with a dose of 1000 micrograms. Before and after the intervention, the level of pain (Quebec Standard Pain Questionnaire), disability (Oswestry Disability Questionnaire) and endurance of flexor muscles (sit-up test) and trunk extensor (Sorenson test) were measured. Compared to the control group, both intervention groups caused a significant decrease in pain and disability and a significant increase in the endurance of trunk flexor and extensor muscles (P=0.001). These changes were significantly higher in the Pilates practice group with multi-daily consumption (P>0.05). Probably, Pilates improves pain and functional disability in teachers with non-specific chronic back pain by increasing trunk muscle endurance. For greater effect, it is better to use an antioxidant supplement (multi-daily) along with exercise.