Pain neuroscience education and pilates for elderly with chronic low back pain: randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Objective: Verify the effect of Pain Neuroscience Education combined with Pilates on catastrophizing in older people with chronic non-specific low back pain. Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial with 80 participants divided into two groups: Pilates combined with Pain Neuroscience Education Group – PEG, and Pilates Group – PG. The measurements were taken at baseline, post-intervention, and after 6 months (follow-up). The protocol included three individual 30-min PNE sessions (only for PEG) and, after that, 8 weeks of Pilates (twice a week, 50 min/session, for both groups). Results: Comparisons of pre-post and follow-up differences in catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, disability, and pain intensity showed no evidence that PNE had any additional effects when compared with exercises alone. One likely advantage of the present PNE protocol was that the dropout rates for the PEG group were lower than for the PG group, showing that PNE has increased exercise adherence. Conclusion: The clinical relevance of the study is that Pilates is a safe intervention for older people with nonspecific chronic low back pain, and that PNE can increase adherence to exercise for this population.