Can a pilates exercise program be effective on balance, flexibility and muscle endurance? A randomized controlled...

Area of Science:

• Exercise Science
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Kinesiology

Background:

• Assessing the impact of Pilates mat exercises on key physical fitness components.
• Investigating improvements in balance, flexibility, and core strength.
• Focusing on healthy adult populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effects of a Pilates program on dynamic and static balance.
• To determine changes in hamstring flexibility and abdominal muscle endurance.
• To measure abdominal and lumbar muscle activity.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial with healthy female university students.
• Pilates group (1 hour, twice weekly) vs. control group.
• Evaluations included balance tests (KAT), flexibility (sit-and-reach), endurance (curl-up), and muscle activity (PBU).

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in the Pilates group for flexibility, endurance, muscle activity, and balance after eight weeks.
• Pilates group showed superior results compared to the control group in flexibility and muscle activity at six weeks.
• Improvements in curl-up and static balance scores were noted at eight weeks in the Pilates group.

Conclusions:

• An eight-week Pilates program positively impacts static balance, flexibility, and core muscle function.
• Pilates training enhances abdominal muscle endurance and activity.
• No correlation was found between flexibility, endurance, trunk muscle activity, and balance parameters.