Pilates method and pain in pregnancy: a systematic review and metanalysis

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:The bodily changes resulting from pregnancy can culminate in adverse outcomes to maternal health, including pain, which may be related to postural changes, functional disabilities and impaired quality of life of pregnant women. Due to its effects, the Pilates Method can contribute to alleviate these problems, although its benefits are not a consensus in the literature. In this sense, the objective of this study was to systematically review in the literature the implications of the Pilates Method on pain in pregnant women. CONTENTS: Systematic review and metanalysis of randomized clinical trials conducted in the databases Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Medline, Web of Science, PEDro, LILACS and SciELO, where the descriptors "Pregnancy" and "Pilates Method" were used. Of the 105 articles found, five met the selection criteria for this study and two were included in the meta-analysis for the outcome pain. The Pilates Method group showed superiority for pain relief compared to the control group (CI 95% : -2.24 --1.13; I 2 : 12%). Additionally, the Pilates Method produced less progression of abdominal diastasis, decreased fatigue, maintained anthropometric and hemodynamic parameters, increased abdominal and pelvic floor strength, improved hamstring muscle flexibility, lumbar-pelvic stabilization, posture, functional capacity and quality of life of pregnant women. CONCLUSION: The Pilates method was superior to the minimum intervention for pain relief in pregnant women, in addition to improving physical conditions.

Os benefícios do Pilates no período gestacional: revisão integrativa

“…Aproximadamente 30% das gestantes manifestam sintomas de dor intensa que afetam sua capacidade funcional e QV, dentre esses fatores, incluem alterações posturais, afrouxamento do ligamento pélvico e hiperlordose lombar, que contribuem para a algia na gravidez. A fadiga dos estabilizadores do assoalho abdominal e pélvico auxiliam em seu avanço no período gestacional (Mendo, 2021).…”

“…As grávidas se beneficiam da fisioterapia para tratar a algia e aprimorar a QV. Entre as intervenções fisioterapêuticas para o público em geral, o MP é uma opção para alívio da dor, capacidade funcional, melhorada na região lombo-pélvica, entre outros (Mendo, 2021). A prática frequente aumenta a energia diária, fortalece a pelve, logo as futuras mães aprendem a controlar a zona pélvica.…”