Pilates plus Hands-On therapy shows promise for back pain relief
NCT ID NCT07281183
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at whether adding Reformer Pilates exercises to manual therapy (like massage, cupping, and heat) helps women with chronic low back pain more than manual therapy alone. Forty women aged 25 to 55 with pain lasting over 12 weeks took part. Researchers measured pain, flexibility, strength, and daily function to see if the combined approach offered extra benefits.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Reformer Pilates exercise and manual therapy (including TENS, infrared, soft tissue mobilization, cupping, and Graston technique)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a more effective non-drug treatment for chronic low back pain in women.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study with only 40 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The combination approach may not be better than manual therapy alone.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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40 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2025
- Finished
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Jul 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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25 to 55 years
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 25 and 55 years * Female gender * Voluntary participation in the study * History of low back pain lasting longer than 12 weeks and diagnosis of mechanical low back pain (chronic low back pain) * No contraindications to exercise * No physical or mental condition preventing participation in the study Exclusion Criteria: * Age below 5 years or above 55 years * Low back pain lasting less than 12 weeks * Presence of chronic comorbid disease (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, or other systemic conditions) * Regular use of medication * Presence of a neurological pathology * Any contraindication to exercise * Inability to establish verbal or visual communication * Pregnancy
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Uskudar University
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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