The Effect of Eight Weeks Pilates Exercises on Pain and Quality of Life in Patients with Spondylolysis

Spondylolysis is a one- sided and non-slide defect of spine that usually involved the fourth and fifth lumbar spine. It can lead to pain and lower quality of life in patients due to instability. So, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of eight weeks Pilates exercise on pain and quality of life in patients with spondylolysis.
Fourteen women with spondylolysis diagnosed by neurosurgeon were selected, and were randomly divided into two equal groups: experimental and control. Experimental group performed selected Pilate's exercises for eight weeks, three sessions (each 60 minutes) in a week. But during these times, control group did not participate in any treatment activity and performed normal daily activities. Pain (Visual Analog Scale), and quality of life (quality of Life Questionnaire SF-36), of samples were evaluated before and after eight weeks of training. For data analysis, analysis of variance model with repeated measurement or Man-Whitney u or Wilcoxon tests were employed value ≤0.05 was used as statistically significant.
In experimental group pain were significantly decreased, but no significant differences were observed in control group. However, in total there were significant differences between experimental and control groups. In experimental group, quality of life were significantly increased, but no significant differences were observed in control group. In total there were significant differences between experimental and control groups.
It can be concluded that, Pilates selected training could improve pain and quality of life in patients with spondylolysis, so that it could be suggested as a useful modality for the rehabilitation and spondylolysis treatment.