Therapeutic Effects of the Pilates Method in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review

Overview

Journal J Clin Med

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2022 Feb 15

PMID 35160134

Authors

Gustavo Rodriguez-Fuentes

Lucia Silveira-Pereira

Pedro Ferradans-Rodriguez

Pablo Campo-Prieto

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The Pilates Method is a rehabilitation tool with verified benefits in pain management, physical function, and quality of life in many different physiotherapy areas. It could be beneficial for patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). The aim of the study was to summarize current evidence for the effectiveness of Pilates in pwMS. A comprehensive search of Cinahl, Scopus, Web of Science, PEDro, and PubMed (including PubMed Central and Medline) was conducted to examine randomized controlled trials (RCT) that included Pilates intervention in multiple sclerosis. The PEDro scale and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, RoB-2, were used to evaluate risk of bias for RCT. Twenty RCT (999 patients) were included. Ten were of good quality (PEDro), and seven had low risk of bias (RoB-2). Pilates improves balance, gait, physical-functional conditions (muscular strength, core stability, aerobic capacity, and body composition), and cognitive functions. Fatigue, quality of life, and psychological function did not show clear improvement. There was good adherence to Pilates intervention (average adherence ≥ 80%). Cumulative data suggest that Pilates can be a rehabilitation tool for pwMS. High adherence and few adverse effects were reported. Future research is needed to develop clinical protocols that could maximize therapeutic effects of Pilates for pwMS.

Citing Articles

Correlations among fatigue, respiratory function, balance and core muscle morphology in multiple sclerosis: a comprehensive observational study.

de la Plaza San Frutos M, Sanz-Esteban I, Salniccia F, Bermejo-Franco A, Garcia-Corona A, Palma-Baquedano M Front Neurol. 2025; 15:1529057.

PMID: 39902388 PMC: 11789476. DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1529057.

Effect of an Internet-Based Pilates Telerehabilitation Intervention in People With Multiple Sclerosis: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Tacchino A, Ponzio M, Confalonieri P, Leocani L, Inglese M, Centonze D JMIR Res Protoc. 2025; 14:e58026.

PMID: 39899835 PMC: 11833266. DOI: 10.2196/58026.

The effects of adding a six-month Pilates exercise program to three months of traditional community-based pulmonary rehabilitation in individuals with COPD: a prospective cohort study.

Barbosa M, de Melo C, Torres R Can J Respir Ther. 2024; 60:68-85.

PMID: 38828206 PMC: 11144029. DOI: 10.29390/001c.117966.

Remote Pilates Training Is Effective in Improving Physical Fitness in Healthy Women: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Lazarowitz Zanzuri C, Hadas D, Hutzler Y, Goral A, Tsuk S Healthcare (Basel). 2024; 12(7).

PMID: 38610146 PMC: 11011810. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12070724.

Effects of Pilates Exercises on Core Stability After Recovery from COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Amin W, Ali O, Malik S, Draj S, Masoud F, Sohel A J Multidiscip Healthc. 2024; 17:753-763.

PMID: 38404718 PMC: 10893876. DOI: 10.2147/JMDH.S453050.

References

Dobson R, Giovannoni G . Multiple sclerosis - a review. Eur J Neurol. 2018; 26(1):27-40. DOI: 10.1111/ene.13819. View

Rietberg M, Brooks D, Uitdehaag B, Kwakkel G . Exercise therapy for multiple sclerosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005; (1):CD003980. PMC: 6485797. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003980.pub2. View

Padgett P, Kasser S . Exercise for managing the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Phys Ther. 2013; 93(6):723-8. DOI: 10.2522/ptj.20120178. View

Marandi S, Nejad V, Shanazari Z, Zolaktaf V . A comparison of 12 weeks of pilates and aquatic training on the dynamic balance of women with mulitple sclerosis. Int J Prev Med. 2013; 4(Suppl 1):S110-7. PMC: 3665016. View

Ozkul C, Guclu-Gunduz A, Eldemir K, Apaydin Y, Yazici G, Irkec C . Combined exercise training improves cognitive functions in multiple sclerosis patients with cognitive impairment: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2020; 45:102419. DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2020.102419. View

Duff W, Andrushko J, Renshaw D, Chilibeck P, Farthing J, Danielson J . Impact of Pilates Exercise in Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Int J MS Care. 2018; 20(2):92-100. PMC: 5898921. DOI: 10.7224/1537-2073.2017-066. View

Fleming K, Coote S, Herring M . Home-based Pilates for symptoms of anxiety, depression and fatigue among persons with multiple sclerosis: An 8-week randomized controlled trial. Mult Scler. 2021; 27(14):2267-2279. PMC: 8597189. DOI: 10.1177/13524585211009216. View

Giesser B . Exercise in the management of persons with multiple sclerosis. Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2015; 8(3):123-30. PMC: 4409551. DOI: 10.1177/1756285615576663. View

Kara B, Kucuk F, Poyraz E, Soysal Tomruk M, Idiman E . Different types of exercise in Multiple Sclerosis: Aerobic exercise or Pilates, a single-blind clinical study. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2016; 30(3):565-573. DOI: 10.3233/BMR-150515. View

10.

Khan F, Amatya B . Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2016; 98(2):353-367. DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2016.04.016. View

11.

Page M, McKenzie J, Bossuyt P, Boutron I, Hoffmann T, Mulrow C . The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ. 2021; 372:n71. PMC: 8005924. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.n71. View

12.

Ozkul C, Guclu-Gunduz A, Irkec C, Fidan I, Aydin Y, Ozkan T . Effect of combined exercise training on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor, suppressors of cytokine signaling 1 and 3 in patients with multiple sclerosis. J Neuroimmunol. 2018; 316:121-129. DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2018.01.002. View

13.

Arntzen E, Straume B, Odeh F, Feys P, Normann B . Group-based, individualized, comprehensive core stability and balance intervention provides immediate and long-term improvements in walking in individuals with multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial. Physiother Res Int. 2019; 25(1):e1798. DOI: 10.1002/pri.1798. View

14.

Nilsagard Y, Gunn H, Freeman J, Hoang P, Lord S, Mazumder R . Falls in people with MS--an individual data meta-analysis from studies from Australia, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States. Mult Scler. 2014; 21(1):92-100. PMC: 4361466. DOI: 10.1177/1352458514538884. View

15.

Middleton L, Barnes D, Lui L, Yaffe K . Physical activity over the life course and its association with cognitive performance and impairment in old age. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2010; 58(7):1322-6. PMC: 3662219. DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.02903.x. View

16.

Byrnes K, Wu P, Whillier S . Is Pilates an effective rehabilitation tool? A systematic review. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2018; 22(1):192-202. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2017.04.008. View

17.

Foley N, Teasell R, Bhogal S, Speechley M . Stroke Rehabilitation Evidence-Based Review: methodology. Top Stroke Rehabil. 2003; 10(1):1-7. View

18.

Lublin F, Reingold S, Cohen J, Cutter G, Soelberg Sorensen P, Thompson A . Defining the clinical course of multiple sclerosis: the 2013 revisions. Neurology. 2014; 83(3):278-86. PMC: 4117366. DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000000560. View

19.

Motl R, Sandroff B . Benefits of Exercise Training in Multiple Sclerosis. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2015; 15(9):62. DOI: 10.1007/s11910-015-0585-6. View

20.

Sanchez-Lastra M, Martinez-Aldao D, Molina A, Ayan C . Pilates for people with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2019; 28:199-212. DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2019.01.006. View