Breaking the Cycle of Pain With Clinical Pilates
Musculoskeletal Disorder
What this study involves
The registry does not currently label this study as recruiting. Ask about its status before planning a screening visit.
- Study type
- Observational
- Phase
- Not applicable / not listed
- Age range
- 21 years - 70 years
- Sex eligible
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Participants
- 60 Estimated
These are starting points, not an eligibility decision. The research team must review the full requirements.
About the research
The objective of this pilot study is to examine the feasibility of implementing Dance Medicine Australia (DMA) Clinical Pilates treatments for a diverse group of adult patients with various musculoskeletal problems, such as low back pain, knee pain and shoulder pain, at a local rehabilitation clinic. To ensure accessibility and generalisability within a community context, the project will collaborate with The Rehab Circle, a local rehabilitation clinic where DMA-certified physiotherapists will provide interventions. After a clinical examination, patients will receive supervised DMA Clinical Pilates mat and/or equipment exercise interventions tailored to their individual movement preferences.
Who may be able to participate?
The list below is the sponsor’s full registry wording. It can include conditions, prior treatment, test results and other requirements. A match in search does not mean you qualify.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Adult patients with musculoskeletal problems aged 21 to 70 years who are deemed suitable for DMA Clinical Pilates will be invited to participate in this project.
- Diagnostic characteristics include the presence of multiple body regions with musculoskeletal problems, medical diagnosis, whether the patient is scheduled for surgery, duration of symptoms and co-morbidities such as diabetes and hypertension.
Exclusion Criteria:
\- Patients with symptoms of cancer or ongoing cancer management, spinal fractures (past 3 months), cauda equina lesion, complete loss of bladder/bowel control or saddle paraesthesia, known pregnancy, or spinal inflammatory disease such as ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis will be excluded.
Study population
Individuals with musculoskeletal conditions in Singapore
Understand screeningTreatment, groups and participation
The registry may describe treatments and study duration without a complete visit calendar. Ask the study team for the exact schedule, procedures, risks, costs and alternatives. Keep your usual care plan unless your treating clinician tells you otherwise.
- Assignment
- Not reported
- Masking
- Not reported
Clinical Pilates Group
After a clinical examination, patients will receive supervised DMA Clinical Pilates mat and/or equipment exercise interventions tailored to their individual movement preferences. Physiotherapists will determine the intensity, frequency, and progression of exercise, considering patients' physical conditions.
Other: Clinical Pilates
Clinical Pilates OTHER
Clinical Pilates is easy to do and pain-free, catering to individual patients' needs. The working principle of DMA Clinical Pilates stems from neuromuscular training, involving simple exercises in the early stage of rehabilitation to prevent compensatory muscle activity. This approach allows for motor relearning through the corticospinal tract and minimises stress on the spinal structures, leading to decreased pain and improved movement control.
What researchers are measuring
Outcome measures describe what is being studied. They are not proof that a treatment works.
Primary measures
Numeric Pain Rating Scale
Time frame: Baseline, through completion of supervised Clinical Pilates treatment (an average of 6 weeks), 6-month and 12-month follow-ups.
Patients will report the level of pain associated with musculoskeletal disorders on a scale from 0 to 10. 0 indicates no pain, while 10 indicates severe pain.
Secondary measures
Patient-Specific Functional Scale
Time frame: Baseline, through completion of supervised Clinical Pilates treatment (an average of 6 weeks), 6-month and 12-month follow-ups.
Patients identify 3 to 5 everyday activities they struggle with due to injury and score them on an 11-point scale from 0 (unable to perform) to 10 (able to perform at their prior level).
Oswestry Disability Index
Time frame: Baseline, through completion of supervised Clinical Pilates treatment (an average of 6 weeks), 6-month and 12-month follow-ups.
The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is a questionnaire used by clinicians to measure the extent to which low back pain affects a patient's daily functional activities. It assesses 10 categories, including pain intensity, lifting, walking, sleeping, and social life. The questionnaire consists of 10 sections, each scored from 0 to 5 points (maximum possible score of 50). This questionnaire is applicable only to patients with back conditions.
Neck Disability Index
Time frame: Baseline, through completion of supervised Clinical Pilates treatment (an average of 6 weeks), 6-month and 12-month follow-ups.
The Neck Disability Index (NDI) is the standard 10-item questionnaire used to assess how neck pain affects patients' daily life. Each of the 10 sections is scored on a 6-point scale from 0 (no disability) to 5 (worst possible limitation). It evaluates areas such as personal care, lifting, reading, headaches, work, and sleep. Each of the 10 sections is scored on a 6-point scale from 0 (no disability) to 5 (worst possible limitation). This questionnaire is applicable only to patients with neck conditions.
Upper Extremity Functional Index
Time frame: Baseline, through completion of supervised Clinical Pilates treatment (an average of 6 weeks), 6-month and 12-month follow-ups.
The Upper Extremity Functional Index (UEFI) is a 20-item patient-reported questionnaire that measures how upper-limb conditions (shoulder, wrist, or hand injuries) affect daily activities. Patients rate 20 specific activities on a 0-4 Likert scale. The total score ranges from 0 to 80. Higher scores (closer to 80) indicate better, unrestricted upper-limb function. Lower scores (closer to 0) indicate greater functional limitation or disability. This questionnaire is applicable only to patients with upper-limb conditions.
Lower Extremity Functional Index
Time frame: Baseline, through completion of supervised Clinical Pilates treatment (an average of 6 weeks), 6-month and 12-month follow-ups.
The Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) is a 20-item patient-reported questionnaire measuring how lower-limb problems affect daily activities. Patients rate 20 everyday physical activities on a 5-point scale (0 to 4) according to the difficulty they experience today due to their leg problem. Total scores range from 0 (extreme disability) to 80 (high function). Lower scores indicate greater functional impairment and disability, while higher scores indicate higher function and less disability. This questionnaire is applicable only to patients with lower-limb conditions.
Short Form 12
Time frame: Baseline, through completion of supervised Clinical Pilates treatment (an average of 6 weeks), 6-month and 12-month follow-ups.
The Short Form 12 (SF-12) is a 12-item, patient-reported health questionnaire measuring an individual's overall health-related quality of life. It assesses eight health domains, including physical functioning, bodily pain, vitality, and mental health, and generates two standardised composite scores: the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and the Mental Component Summary (MCS).
Adverse events
Time frame: Baseline, through completion of supervised Clinical Pilates treatment (an average of 6 weeks), 6-month and 12-month follow-ups.
The number of adverse events will be documented.
Number of pain recurrences
Time frame: Baseline, through completion of supervised Clinical Pilates treatment (an average of 6 weeks), 6-month and 12-month follow-ups.
The number of pain recurrences will be documented.
Review the complete result tables and limitations in the official record.
Open official results ↗Research locations (1)
The overall study status and a local site’s status can differ. Confirm that location’s availability before traveling.
1 locations
The Rehab CircleSingapore, SingaporeStatus unknown
Study team and timeline
- Lead sponsor
- Nanyang Technological University
- Study start
- Dec 1, 2026 Estimated
- Primary completion
- Dec 1, 2029 Estimated
- Study completion
- Dec 1, 2029 Estimated
- First posted
- Nov 10, 2026 Actual
- Last updated
- Nov 10, 2026 Actual
Official study contacts
Official study title
Breaking the Cycle of Pain With Clinical Pilates: A Community-Based Single-Arm Feasibility Study
Ask Wellness Clinical Research
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Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Information is submitted by sponsors and investigators. NLM does not approve the safety or science of all listed studies. Registry disclaimer.
Retrieved: Nov 12, 2026 · Last registry update: Nov 10, 2026