[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of mat Pilates and apparatus Pilates
on pain and static balance of businesswomen with chronic back pain. [Subjects and Methods] Participants were randomly
allocated to Pilates mat exercises (PME) or Pilates apparatus exercise (PAE), and performed the appropriate
Pilates exercises 3 days per week for 8 weeks. In order to measure the improvement in the participants’ static balance
ability as a result of the exercise, the sway length and sway velocity of the subjects were measured before and
after the experiment while the subjects stood on a Balance Performance Monitor (BPM) facing the front wall for 30
seconds with their eyes open. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure the degree of pain. [Results]
The VAS score, sway length, and sway velocity of both groups decreased significantly after the experiment, but
the PME group showed a greater decrease than the PAE group. [Conclusion] PME showed greater improvement in
pain level and balance compared with PAE in this research. Since the subjects of this study were patients with low
back pain, PME is assumed to have been more suitable and effective because it uses body weight to strengthen core
muscles rather than heavier apparatuses as in PAE.