McKenzie, R , & May, S. (2003). The lumbar spine: mechanical diagnosis and therapy (Vol. 1). Orthopedic Physical Therapy.
Natour J, Cazotti Lde A, Ribeiro LH, Baptista AS, Jones A Pilates improves pain, function and quality of life in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2015 Jan;29(1):59-68. doi: 10.1177/0269215514538981. Epub 2014 Jun 25.
Patrick N, Emanski E, Knaub MA Acute and chronic low back pain. Med Clin North Am. 2014 Jul;98(4):777-89, xii. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2014.03.005. Review.
van Tulder M, Malmivaara A, Esmail R, Koes B Exercise therapy for low back pain: a systematic review within the framework of the cochrane collaboration back review group. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2000 Nov 1;25(21):2784-96. Review.
Effects of 12-Week Clinical Pilates Exercises in Young Adults With Mechanical Low Back Pain a Randomized Controlled Study
Interventional studies are often prospective and are specifically tailored to evaluate direct impacts of treatment or preventive measures on disease.
Observational studies are often retrospective and are used to assess potential causation in exposure-outcome relationships and therefore influence preventive methods.
Expanded access is a means by which manufacturers make investigational new drugs available, under certain circumstances, to treat a patient(s) with a serious disease or condition who cannot participate in a controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.