Restoring Movement Through Clinical Pilates: A Case Report in a Patient with Persistent Symptoms Following Lumbar Spine Surgery

Abstract

Persistent pain, movement dysfunction, and functional limitations may remain after lumbar spine surgery despite correction of structural pathology, highlighting the need for rehabilitation approaches that support functional recovery. Clinical Pilates (CP) integrates breathing, postural alignment, neuromuscular retraining, and individualized exercise progression, yet evidence regarding its role in long-term postoperative spinal rehabilitation remains limited. This retrospective case report describes the ongoing rehabilitation of a 69-year-old female patient with degenerative lumbar spine disease, scoliosis, spinal stenosis, and previous lumbar spine surgery. Despite surgical intervention, the patient continued to experience persistent pain, postural dysfunction, muscular tension, movement limitations, and reduced functional capacity. An individualized Clinical Pilates program was implemented with a focus on movement restoration through postural organization, spinal decompression, motor control training, and progressive functional retraining. Over the course of rehabilitation, improvements were observed in movement quality, postural control, trunk stabilization, mobility tolerance, functional performance, and confidence in movement. The patient progressed from guarded movement patterns requiring frequent guidance to greater autonomy, coordination, and movement efficiency. A notable milestone was the recovery of previously unattainable lower-extremity movement sequences, suggesting restoration of complex motor control. These findings suggest that Clinical Pilates may serve as a comprehensive movement-based rehabilitation strategy capable of facilitating motor relearning and long-term functional recovery when postoperative limitations persist despite surgical intervention.

Keywords: Clinical Pilates; Lumbar Spine Surgery; Postoperative Rehabilitation; Motor Control; Movement Restoration; Functional Recovery; Spinal Rehabilitation

Citation

De La Fuente-Reynoso AL, Dyall J, Peña-Zermeño LV, Menna A, Adamyk T, Eaton HS. Restoring Movement Through Clinical Pilates: A Case Report in a Patient with Persistent Symptoms Following Lumbar Spine Surgery. WebLog J Phys Ther Rehabil. wjptr.2026.g2504. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21741060