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Defining Pilates exercise: a systematic review.
Cherie Wells1, Gregory S Kolt, Andrea Bialocerkowski
1School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia. c.wells@uws.edu.au
Pilates is a mind-body exercise focusing on core strength and flexibility. Research shows posture is emphasized more for low back pain patients, while traditional principles are less relevant for them.
Area of Science:
- Physiotherapy
- Exercise Science
- Rehabilitation
Background:
- Pilates is a popular mind-body exercise.
- Its definition and application vary in scientific literature.
- Understanding these variations is crucial for effective application, especially in clinical settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and describe Pilates exercise based on peer-reviewed literature.
- To compare the definitions and components of Pilates used in studies involving healthy individuals versus those with low back pain.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature review was conducted across multiple databases (e.g., Medline, Scopus).
- 119 peer-reviewed papers describing Pilates exercise were included.
- Content analysis and statistical comparison were used to analyze definitions, equipment, and principles.
Main Results:
- Pilates is defined as a mind-body exercise emphasizing strength, core stability, flexibility, muscle control, posture, and breathing.
- Posture was significantly more emphasized in studies with low back pain participants.
- Traditional Pilates principles (centering, concentration, control, precision, flow) were mentioned in only 23% of papers and rarely in low back pain studies.
Conclusions:
- A general consensus exists on the definition of Pilates.
- Posture may require greater emphasis in Pilates for individuals with low back pain.
- Traditional Pilates principles, excluding breathing, may be less relevant for this population.
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