Pilates for Pain and Health Outcomes Across Clinical and Non-Clinical Populations: Scoping Review with ☸️SAIMSARA

Name: SAIMSARA Evidence Object sport::PILATES_PM
Creator: SAIMSARA
License: https://saimsara.com/license/

SAIMSARA

doi:10.62487/saimsara041857c9

SAIMSARA Journal

Machine-Readable Science • ISSN 3054-3991

Pilates for Pain and Health Outcomes Across Clinical and Non-Clinical Populations: Scoping Review with ☸️SAIMSARA

Sports Medicine

Issue 5, Volume 1, 2026

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DOI: 10.62487/saimsara041857c9

Editorial note

• Last update: 2026-11-11 07:55:02

What is this paper about

Can Pilates do more than improve flexibility? Drawing on 145 scientific references, this SAIMSARA scoping review explores evidence for pain relief, physical function, mental well-being, and quality of life across diverse populations—discover what the research really reveals and where uncertainty remains in the full paper.

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Abstract: To systematically map the scope and nature of evidence from original studies examining the effects of Pilates exercise on health-related outcomes across various clinical and non-clinical populations. The review uses 145 references and builds its evidence map from 170 original studies with 298148 total participants/sample observations (topic-deduplicated ΣN). This review highlights a consistent signal that Pilates is associated with reduced pain and functional disability alongside improved quality of life across remarkably diverse clinical and non-clinical populations. The most replicated evidence centers on chronic low back pain, where Pilates was associated with significant pain reduction (MD -1.14) and disability improvement (MD -6.7) compared to home exercise immediately after intervention, although these between-group differences were no longer statistically significant at six months, with benefits recurring in neck pain, fibromyalgia, and older-adult function. Its dual impact on physical symptoms and psychosocial well-being supports a role for Pilates as a holistic, low-impact health intervention rather than a purely physical modality. Practically, these findings suggest Pilates can serve as a safe adjunctive option within musculoskeletal and mental-health management. However, given predominantly small samples and short follow-up, future adequately powered trials with standardized protocols and longer-term follow-up are needed to clarify dosing and durability of benefit.

Keywords: Pilates exercise; chronic low back pain; health-related quality of life; mental health; functional mobility; pregnancy outcomes; pain management; older adults; physical fitness; sleep quality

Review Stats

Final search date and database lock: 2026-06-13 17:32:52 CEST
Plan: Pro (expanded craft tokens; source: PubMed)
Source: PubMed
Total Abstracts/Papers: 332
Downloaded Abstracts/Papers: 332
Included original and non-original Abstracts/Papers (all): 287
Included original Abstracts/Papers (Vote counting by direction of effect): 170
Reference Index (links used in paper): 145
Total participants/sample observations (topic deduplicated ΣN): 298148

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Reference Index (145)

[1] Best Exercise Options for Reducing Pain and Disability in Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain: Pilates, Strength, Core-Based, and Mind-Body. A Network Meta-analysis. — https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2022.10671
[2] Which specific modes of exercise training are most effective for treating low back pain? Network meta-analysis. — https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2019-100886
[3] The effects of Pilates on pain, functionality, quality of life, flexibility and endurance in lumbar disc herniation. — https://doi.org/10.2217/cer-2022-0144
[4] Defining Pilates exercise: a systematic review. — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2012.02.005
[5] Some types of exercise are more effective than others in people with chronic low back pain: a network meta-analysis. — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphys.2021.09.004
[6] Effectiveness of Pilates compared with home-based exercises in individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain: Randomised controlled trial. — https://doi.org/10.1177/02692155241277041
[7] The effects of clinical pilates exercises on functional disability, pain, quality of life and lumbopelvic stabilization in pregnant women with low back pain: A randomized controlled study. — https://doi.org/10.3233/bmr-191810
[8] Benefits of Pilates in the Elderly Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. — https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe12030018

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