Efeitos da intervenção fisioterapêutica por meio do método pilates sobre a dor lombar em gestantes: ensaio clínico controlado randomizado

Abstract

Introduction: Pregnancy causes several changes in a woman's body, such as low back pain (LBP), which impacts quality of life. Physical exercise is an effective strategy for preventing this symptom, and the Pilates Method (PM) is one of the intervention options. Despite the widespread use of PM, there are doubts about its superiority over other types of exercise. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of PM on LBP in pregnant women. Method: Randomized clinical trial with 42 primiparous pregnant women, between 18th and 21st gestational weeks, allocated into two groups. The Pilates Group (PG) performed exercises based on PM on the ground, in a group, for 12 weeks with a weekly frequency of twice a week. The Control Group (CG) performed global strengthening and stretching exercises, in a group, without emphasis on abdominal contraction, with the same frequency. To assess disability related to LBP, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire was applied before and after the intervention. For data analysis, the repeated measures ANOVA test was used, with Tukey's post-hoc test. Results: There was a significant increase in the questionnaire score only in the CG (p<0.001), with no significant differences between the groups after the intervention (p=0.057). Conclusion: Although Pilates minimizes the worsening of disability, its effectiveness was not superior to global exercises. Thus, regular physical activity, regardless of the modality, is crucial for the management of LBP during pregnancy, highlighting the importance of guidance to keep pregnant women active.