Effect on performance of learning a pilates skill with or without a mirror

Area of Science:

• Kinesiology
• Motor Learning
• Sports Science

Background:

• Mirrors are commonly used in physical education for learning precise movements.
• Their impact on skill acquisition and retention, particularly in Pilates, requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if learning the Pilates star movement with mirrors enhances subsequent performance without them.
• To determine the effect of visual feedback from mirrors on motor skill acquisition in Pilates.

Main Methods:

• Twenty subjects learned the Pilates star movement over seven weeks.
• One group (n=11) trained with mirrors, while the control group (n=9) trained without.
• Performance was quantitatively assessed via video analysis of body alignment before and after training.

Main Results:

• Both groups showed similar improvements in the Pilates star movement performance when assessed without mirrors.
• The presence of mirrors during training did not lead to significantly better retention or execution of the skill.

Conclusions:

• Immediate visual feedback from mirrors during Pilates training does not necessarily improve skill performance in their absence.
• The study suggests that motor learning in Pilates may not be significantly enhanced by mirror use for subsequent independent performance.