Combined Aquatic and Pilates Exercises Improve Pain, Mobility, Functional Disability, and Quality of Life in Women With Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This article focuses on a randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of aquatic exercise alone versus a combination of aquatic and Pilates exercises on pain, spinal mobility, functional disability, and quality of life in women aged 30–50 with mild to moderate lumbar disc herniation (LDH). The study found that both exercise interventions significantly improved all measured outcomes compared to a control group, with the combined aquatic and Pilates program yielding greater improvements in spinal mobility, functional disability, and quality of life. The authors suggest that the complementary mechanisms of aquatic exercise (providing low-impact support and muscle relaxation) and Pilates (enhancing core stability and neuromuscular control) contribute to these enhanced benefits. The findings support the use of a combined aquatic and Pilates exercise regimen as a non-invasive rehabilitation approach for women with LDH, while noting limitations such as sample size and lack of long-term follow-up.