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Meta-Analysis
. 2021 Oct 1;100(39):e27254.
doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000027254.

The effect of Pilates exercise training for scoliosis on improving spinal deformity and quality of life: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Yanyun Gou  1 , Huangwei Lei, Yi Zeng, Jing Tao, Weicheng Kong, Jingsong Wu
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

The effect of Pilates exercise training for scoliosis on improving spinal deformity and quality of life: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Yanyun Gou et al. Medicine (Baltimore). .

Abstract

Background: It remains unclear if Pilates is conducive to reducing spinal deformity and improving patients' quality of life (QOL) with scoliosis. The aim of this study was to systematically review the published evidence to determine whether Pilates exercise training is an efficacious therapy for scoliosis.

Methods: Searches was conducted in Medline, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Cochrane library, Baidu Scholar, and Green Medical to identify randomized studies that tested the effect of Pilates exercise training on Cobb angle, pain level, trunk range of motion (ROM), angle of trunk rotation, and QOL in idiopathic scoliosis. Separate meta-analyses were performed on the endpoints of these outcome measures. The PEDro scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies.

Results: This review included 10 randomized controlled trials (n = 359). PEDro scores ranged from 3 to 10, with the mean score across all articles being 5.3/10 and judged to be of fair quality. The results indicated that Pilates exercises was effective in reducing Cobb angle (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.11-2.35), angle of trunk rotation (SMD = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.01-1.73), and pain level (SMD = 2.78, 95% CI = 1.55-4.01), as well as improving trunk ROM (SMD = 1.23, 95% CI = 0.45-2.00), and QOL (SMD = 3.05, 95% CI = 2.59-3.51) in patients with scoliosis.

Conclusion: Pilates exercise training may reduce the Cobb angle and trunk rotation, relieve pain, increase trunk ROM, and improve QOL for patients with scoliosis. Due to the poor quality of the evidence, however, these results should be interpreted with caution.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flow diagram outlining the study selection process. CNKI = China National Knowledge Information database, VIP = Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Analysis of Cobb angle. Pilates vs control: Cobb angle.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Analysis of angle of trunk rotation. Pilates vs control: angle of trunk rotation.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Analysis of pain level. Pilates vs control: Pain level.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Analysis of trunk range of motion. Pilates vs control: trunk range of motion. ROM = range of motion.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Analysis of quality of life. Pilates vs control: quality of life.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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