SynthesisAnnals of medicine2025
The efficacy and safety of pilates exercise in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in Annals of medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Pooled it
- Oleanolic acid cubic liquid crystal nanoparticle-based thermosensitive gel attenuates knee osteoarthritis symptoms in rats.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundEvidence on the effects of Pilates exercise in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) remains limited. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate its efficacy and safety.
methodsWe searched PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar up to May 21, 2024, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Outcomes included Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), knee range of motion (ROM), and adverse events. Risk of bias and evidence certainty were assessed; subgroup, sensitivity, and publication bias analyses were performed.
resultsEight RCTs involving 322 participants were included. Risk of bias ranged from low to high, mainly due to lack of blinding. Compared to blank controls, Pilates significantly reduced WOMAC scores (SMD = -1.70; 95% CI: -3.14 to -0.25). One study comparing Pilates to health education reported significant reductions in VAS (MD = -1.74; 95% CI: -2.51 to -0.97) and WOMAC (SMD = -1.42; 95% CI: -2.39 to -0.45), but no significant ROM improvement. Compared to other exercises, Pilates showed no significant effects on VAS, WOMAC, or ROM. Funnel plots showed asymmetry for VAS and WOMAC; Egger's test indicated possible publication bias (
conclusionPilates may relieve pain and improve physical function, but has limited effects on ROM. Due to insufficient adverse event reporting, safety remains unclear. Given the low study quality, high heterogeneity, and possible bias, results should be interpreted cautiously. Future studies should use standardized protocols, report long-term adherence, and assess mental health benefits.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.