The effectiveness of Pilates for Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain
Sam’s world view
Each month we hear from Sam Wood - she summarises the most recent articles published in the Pilates industry.
In 2018 a group of researchers in Brazil set out to determine the effectiveness of Pilates on pain, function, quality of life, and consumption of pain medication in patients with mechanical neck pain. “Mechanical neck pain” is the name healthcare professionals use when joint and muscle problems result in neck pain (Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy 2013). This term is often used when neck pain does not have an identifiable pathomechanical cause of symptoms.
In the study, 64 patients between 18 to 65 years of age with mechanical neck pain for more than 3 months were randomly assigned to either a Pilates group or a control group. The Pilates group did two 1-hour sessions per week of mat and equipment (Reformer, Cadillac, Combo Chair, Spine Corrector) exercises for 12 weeks. All of the exercises in the protocol were specifically designed for people with chronic mechanical neck pain. Breathing, spinal mobility, and strengthening of the shoulder girdle muscles were prioritized. The control group received only pain medication, and were not allowed to get any treatment for neck pain. Both groups were instructed to use 750 mg of acetaminophen every 6 hours if they experienced pain.
After 12 weeks, the Pilates group had less pain, better function, and improvement in some quality of life domains as compared to the control group. In addition, their use of acetaminophen was lower. The authors believe that in addition to the specific exercises selected, the emphasis placed on breathing and the integration of Pilates principles contributed to the reduction of pain. This reduction in pain seen in the Pilates group remained significant even after the end of the 12 week intervention. It is suggested that the use of springs promotes greater confidence when performing the exercises, particularly those involving spinal movements. The authors feel that this could be an explanation for the patients’ compliance with the Pilates exercises, thereby contributing to the positive results seen.
The results of this study show that Pilates is an effective treatment for patients with chronic mechanical neck pain. Further, the Pilates protocol used in this study did not worsen pain in any of the patients, which demonstrates that this method had no harmful effects on the patients. Thus, it was demonstrated that Pilates is a viable strategy for the rehabilitation of neck pain, as it is a safe treatment option for patients which can be easily complied with.
Samantha Wood MPT, MBA, NPCT, RYT, is a licensed physical therapist, a National Pilates Certified Teacher (NPCT), a Yoga Alliance–certified teacher, and an associate faculty member for BASI Pilates. She created and teaches three advanced education courses for BASI Pilates: Pilates for Injuries & Pathologies- Parts 1 and 2 (for Pilates teachers) and Pilates: Integration into Therapeutic Practice (for rehab professionals). Pilates for Injuries & Pathologies Part 2: Chronic Pain Syndromes and Neurological Conditions is a brand new course that will debut in 2025 in Tokyo and London.
References
Araujo Cazotti, L., A. Jones, D. Roger-Silva, L. H. Coutinho Ribeiro, J Natour. 2018. “Effectiveness of the Pilates Method in the Treatment of Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 99(9): 1740-1746.