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Updated: Aug 27, 2025
Author Spotlight: Enhancing the Offspring Health in Rats with Maternal Exercise During Pregnancy
Published on: April 5, 2024
Feasibility of pilates for pregnant women: A randomised trial
Melissa Mazzarino1, Debra Kerr2, Meg E Morris3
1Academic and Research Collaborative in Health (ARCH), La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia.
Objective:
To investigate the feasibility and preliminary effects of Pilates exercises in primigravida women.
Design:
Single-blind randomized controlled feasibility trial.
Setting:
Community Pilates classes.
Participants:
Low-risk pregnant women.
Interventions:
Pregnant women were randomly assigned to Pilates exercises (experimental) group for 6 consecutive weeks or usual antenatal care, the control group.
Main Outcomes:
The primary outcome was feasibility of Pilates classes. Secondary outcomes included quality of life, pain, and mobility.
Results:
21 women were recruited to the trial. Eleven were randomly allocated to the experimental group and 10 to the control group. Retention of participants was excellent for the Pilates group (100%) compared to 70% in the control group. There were no adverse events. The Pilates group showed greater gains in quality of life on the SF-12 from the pre-test (M = 81.0, SD = 11.8) to the post-test (M = 83.3, SD = 8.52) compared to the control group (pre-test M = 69.78, SD = 15.9) (post-test M = 68.1, SD = 16.05) (Wald Chi-Square = 5.597, p = 0.018). Although the duration of labour was shorter in the Pilates group (Mdn = 215, IQR: 279 min) than usual care (Mdn = 458.5, IQR: 305 min), the difference was not statistically significant. There were no significant differences between groups for pain, mobility, abdominal separation, urinary continence, analgesia, or the mode of birth.
Conclusions:
Modified Pilates appears feasible and safe for low-risk pregnant women. Further research is needed in on this topic.
