Pilates exercises improve low back pain and quality of life in patients with HTLV-1 virus: a randomized crossover clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Low back pain is highly prevalent in patients with HTLV-1. The effects of physical activity on this condition are not known, but postural misalignment and motor deficits are frequently present. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of Pilates exercises on chronic low back pain in these patients, and its impact on quality of life. METHODS: A randomized crossover clinical trial was conducted, involving 22 patients from a reference center in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The VAS was used to evaluate the effect of Pilates on pain intensity and the SF-36 to assess its impact on quality of life. RESULTS: Our results provide evidence of positive effects on pain intensity and almost all domains of quality of life when patients followed the Pilates exercise program described. CONCLUSION: The Pilates method may be a useful tool in alleviating the symptoms of low back pain, and had a significant impact on quality of life in this sample of patients.