Pilates Versus Isometric Exercise for Knee Osteoarthritis
Sam’s world view
Each month we hear from Sam Wood - she summarises the most recent articles published in the Pilates industry.
In 2022, a study was done in Pakistan to determine whether isometric exercise or Pilates-based exercise is better in the management of knee osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms. The variables studied were pain, knee ROM, and physical function. Forty females between 35 and 65 years old who had been diagnosed with either unilateral or bilateral OA were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (Pilates exercise) or a control group (isometric exercise). Each group did one-hour exercise programs three times per week for eight weeks. Both groups were assessed at baseline and again at the end of the eight weeks. Pain was measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), ROM was assessed using a goniometer, and functional ability was assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster University osteoarthritis index (WOMAC).
The control group’s sessions consisted of hot-pack treatment for 7 to 10 minutes, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for 10 minutes, and quadriceps strengthening and hamstring stretching exercises. The Pilates group did the same program as the control group, with the addition of mat Pilates exercises focusing on postural training, relaxation, stretching, balance, breath, and strength training. The specific exercises done were the hundred, single-leg stretch, double-leg stretch, clams, single-leg kick, side-kicks, and single-leg circles.
Although both groups showed significant improvement for pain, knee ROM, and physical function after the eight weeks, the Pilates group showed significantly more improvement in terms of pain and physical function. Thus, the researchers concluded that Pilates-based exercises are more effective in the management of knee OA as compared to isometric exercises. However, they point out that the sample in this study was only a small number of females, and thus the results cannot be generalized to the entire population.
References
Saleem, N., S. Zahid, T. Mahmood, N. Ahmed, U. Maqsood, and M.A. Chaudhary. 2022. “Effect of Pilates Based Exercises on Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association 72 (01): 8-12.