Effects of Pilates Training on Some Physiological Parameters and Cardiovascular Risk Factors of Middle Aged Sedentary Women

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of 8 weeks regular Pilates mat work exercises on the physiological parameters and cardiovascular risk factors of sedentary middle aged women. 20 healthy middle aged sedentary women (experimental=10 and control=10) voluntarily participated in this study. Subjects in the exercise group performed three Pilate’s beginner mat work sessions per week. Each session lasted 45 minutes with 40-60 % intensity over a period of 8 weeks under the supervision of the same Pilates instructor. All subjects’ (exercise and control group), height, weight, resting heart rate (RHR), blood pressure (BP), waist-hip ratio, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BF%), flexibility, hand grip and back strength, sit up and blood lipids were measured using standardized field and laboratory tests. The data evaluated by the use of SPSS 10.0 software. Test of normality for the data has been performed Kolmogorov–Simirnov Test. Because of our data aren’t normal, the comparison of the groups made by Wilcoxon test at p < 0.05 significance level. Flexibility, hand-grip, sit-up scores and back strength significantly increased at the end of the Pilates intervention, however BF%, systolic BP and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) decreased (p < 0, 05). No other parameters were found to alter.