Mind-Body Pilates vs Pressure Biofeedback for Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Mind-Body Pilates, Pressure Biofeedback.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Chronic Non Specific Low Back Pain, Pain, Core Strength, Quality of Life. Basic parameters: 40 years — 55 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Pakistan
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Effects of Mind-Body Pilates Versus Pressure Biofeedback on Pain,Core Strength and Quality of Life in Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain
Overview
Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain means pain in the lower back that lasts for more than 3 months and does not have a serious cause like a fracture, infection, or nerve damage. It is very common and affects many people at some point in their lives. This type of back pain usually happens because the muscles that support your spine become weak or do not work properly. It can also be linked to poor posture, sitting too long, lack of exercise, stress, or anxiety. Over time, this can lead to stiffness, reduced movement, and difficulty doing daily activities. Treatment mainly focuses on exercise and staying active. Simple physiotherapy treatments like stretching, strengthening, and heat therapy can help reduce pain, but they may not fully improve the deeper muscles that support your back. Two helpful exercise approaches are: Mind-Body Pilates: This involves slow, controlled movements with proper breathing. It helps improve posture, strengthen core muscles, and reduce stress. Pressure Biofeedback Training: This uses a small device to help you learn how to correctly activate deep abdominal muscles that support your spine. Both methods can reduce pain and improve movement. Pilates focuses on whole-body control and relaxation, while biofeedback training focuses more on activating specific muscles. In simple terms, regular exercise, good posture, and learning how to properly use your core muscles are key to managing long-term back pain and improving your quality of life.
Interventions
- Behavioral Mind-Body Pilates
A structured Mind-Body Pilates exercise program focusing on core stability, postural alignment, breathing control, and functional movement patterns. The program includes mat-based exercises targeting deep trunk muscles (transversus abdominis, multifidus) with emphasis on controlled movements and neuromuscular coordination. Sessions will be supervised by a physiotherapist, conducted 3 times per week for 6 weeks, with each session lasting approximately 45-60 minutes - Behavioral Pressure Biofeedback
A core stabilization exercise program using a pressure biofeedback unit to facilitate activation and control of deep abdominal muscles, particularly the transversus abdominis. Exercises will be performed in progressive positions (supine, sitting, standing) with visual feedback to ensure correct muscle activation. Sessions will be supervised by a physiotherapist, conducted 3 times per week for 6 weeks, with each session lasting approximately 30-45 minutes
Primary outcome measures
- Numeric Pain Rating Scale [Time frame: week 6]
Secondary outcome measures (1)
- Pressure Biofeedback Unit [Time frame: week 6]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Age 40-55 years.
- Diagnosed with chronic non-specific low back pain (pain lasting ≥12 weeks).
- Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) pain score ≥3.
- Able to understand study procedures and provide written informed consent.
- Able to participate in the exercise program and attend treatment sessions.
Exclusion criteria
- History of lumbar spine surgery within the past 12 months.
- Serious spinal pathology (fracture, tumor, infection, inflammatory disease).
- Neurological deficits or radiculopathy requiring surgical management.
- Pregnancy.
- Participation in a structured Pilates or core stabilization program within the previous 6 months.
- Any medical condition that prevents safe participation in exercise.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
Study locations
Pakistan · 1 center
- Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences — Lahore
Publications
- Xu C, Fu Z, Wang X. Effect of Transversus abdominis muscle training on pressure-pain threshold in patients with chronic low Back pain. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2021 Apr 1;13(1):35. doi: 10.1186/s13102-021-00262-8. PMID 33794983
- Khan M, et al. Inter-rater reliability of the Pressure Biofeedback Unit among clinicians measuring TrA activation. J Clin Physiother Res. 2022.
- Gilliam JR, George SZ, Norman KS, Hendren S, Sahu PK, Silfies SP. Mind-Body Exercise Performed by Physical Therapists for Reducing Pain and Disability in Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2023 May;104(5):776-789. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2022.10.004. Epub 2022 Dec 17. PMID 36535419
- Amjad F, Mohseni-Bandpei MA, Gilani SA, Ahmad A, Waqas M, Hanif A. Urdu version of Oswestry disability index; a reliability and validity study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021 Mar 29;22(1):311. doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-04173-0. PMID 33781267
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07738965 · UBAS/ERB/26/04/023