Immediate effects of Pilates based therapeutic exercise on postural control of young individuals with non-specific low back pain: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Low back pain affects the person's ability to keep balance, especially in challenging conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine the immediate effects of Pilates exercises on postural sway and dynamic balance of young individuals with non-specific low back pain. DESIGN: Controlled laboratory design. SETTINGS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Forty-six participants with non-specific low back pain were randomized to a Pilates (n=23, 10 males; age: 21.8±3.2years) and a control group (n=23, 9 males; age: 22.8±3.6years). Postural sway was assessed with a force platform and dynamic balance with the Star Excursion Balance Test, before and after the intervention or rest period. To assess postural sway, participants stood still on an unstable surface set on the force plate for 90s, with eyes closed. INTERVENTION: The intervention lasted 20min and consisted on four Pilates exercises: single leg stretch (level 1), pelvic press (level 1), swimming (level 1) and kneeling opposite arm and leg reach. RESULTS: At baseline, no differences were found between groups. The Pilates group improved in all the postural sway values (area of CoP: 11.5±3.4 to 9.7±2.7cm2, p=0.002 and CoP velocity: 2.8±0.6 to 2.3±0.5cm/s, p<0.001) and in the Star Excursion Balance Test. Control group only improved in CoP velocity, however, this improvement was significantly inferior compared to the Pilates group. CONCLUSIONS: Pilates exercises immediately improved postural sway and dynamic balance in young adults with non-specific low back pain.

Kinesiology taping does not change fibularis longus latency time and postural sway.

BACKGROUND: Kinesiology tape seems to improve muscle force, although little is known regarding its effect on latency time and postural sway. OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of kinesiology taping on fibularis longus latency time and postural sway in healthy subjects. METHODS: Thirty participants were equally randomized into three groups, two experimental groups receiving kinesiology tape (EG1, from origin to insertion; EG2, from insertion to origin) and a control group. Before and 20-min after the intervention, postural sway was assessed on a force platform and fibularis longus latency time was recorded with surface electromyography during a sudden inversion perturbation. RESULTS: At baseline, no differences were found between groups regarding age, anthropometrics variables, postural sway and fibularis longus latency time. In both experimental groups, the application of tape did not change postural sway and fibularis longus latency time (EG1: 93.7 ± 15.0 to 89.9 ± 15.6 ms; EG2, 81.24 ± 14.21 to 81.57 ± 16.64, p < 0.05). Also, no changes were observed in the control group. CONCLUSION: Kinesiology tape seems not to enhance fibularis longus reaction time and postural sway in young healthy subjects.