Background: Low back pain is highly prevalent in patients with HTLV-1. The effects of physical activity on this condition are not known, but postural misalignment and motor deficits are frequently present.
Objectives: To assess the effect of Pilates exercises on chronic low back pain in these patients, and its impact on quality of life.
Methods: A randomized crossover clinical trial was conducted, involving 22 patients from a reference center in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The VAS was used to evaluate the effect of Pilates on pain intensity and the SF-36 to assess its impact on quality of life.
Results: Our results provide evidence of positive effects on pain intensity and almost all domains of quality of life when patients followed the Pilates exercise program described.
Conclusion: The Pilates method may be a useful tool in alleviating the symptoms of low back pain, and had a significant impact on quality of life in this sample of patients.
Keywords: HTLV-1; Low back pain; Pilates exercises; Quality of life.
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