Effects of Pilates on Respiratory Mechanics

Influence of Application of the Pilates Method on Pulmonary Function, Thoracic Mobility and Respiratory Muscle Strength

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a fitness program from the application of Pilates on lung function, thoracoabdominal mobility and respiratory muscle strength in women.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Exercise
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Pilates method

Detailed Description

Study in the Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy laboratory and clinics of Pilates in the region, in which the voluntary of the Pilates group would start the Pilates method.

The study included women with body mass index (BMI) ≤ 29 kg/m2 were not engaged in regular physical activity, or sedentary lifestyle with scores up to eight, according to Baecke et al., non-smoker, non-alcoholic, without any abnormalities of the cardiovascular, respiratory and neuromuscular.

The study excluded women with disabling diseases, pregnancy, postpartum less than a year, inability to understand the tests and exercises proposed or refuse to participate in the study.

The volunteers, aged between 25 and 55 years, were allocated in to two groups:

1. Pilates Group (n = 16): sedentary volunteers, but that would begin activities with the Pilates method and evaluated three months.
2. Control group (n = 13): sedentary volunteers and remain sedentary and evaluated in three months.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 21
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Brazil
  • São Paulo
    • Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
      • Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba (UNIMEP)

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 25 years to 55 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• body mass index (BMI) ≤ 29 kg/m2
• not physically active on a regular basis, ie, sedentary lifestyle with scores up to eight, according to Baecke et al.
• nonsmokers
• non-alcoholic
• without any abnormalities in the cardiovascular, respiratory or neuromuscular

Exclusion Criteria:

• disabling diseases
• gestation
• puerperium there is less than a year
• inability to understand the tests and exercises proposed

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Pilates Group; Sedentary volunteers, but that would begin activities with the Pilates method and evaluated in three months. Therapeutic intervention in the Pilates method has two regular weekly sessions for 12 weeks, totaling 24 sessions. For the protocol of Pilates exercises, exercises on soil and equipment, with gradual progression of the load.	Other: Pilates method; Therapeutic intervention in the Pilates method has two regular weekly sessions for 12 weeks, totaling 24 sessions. For the protocol of Pilates exercises, exercises on soil and equipment, with gradual progression of the load.
No Intervention: Control Group; Sedentary volunteers and remain sedentary and evaluated in three months. The volunteers comprised the control group did not perform any physical activity during the study period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pulmonary function	Spirometry was carried out according to the guidelines of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and European Respiratory Society (ERS) (2005). Three types of maneuver were used in order to evaluate the lung volumes and flows: Slow Vital Capacity (SVC), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV). The maneuvers were carried out until three acceptable and reproducible curves were obtained, not exceeding more than eight attempts. The values extracted from each maneuver were selected according to Pereira (2002), and the predicted values calculated using the equation proposed by Pereira et al. (1992) for Brazilians.	Three months
Thoracoabdominal mobility	The measurement of thoracoabdominal mobility was performed by using a tape scaled in centimeters. In the standing position, the measurements were made at levels axillary, xiphoid and abdominal, during rest, and at maximal inspiration and maximal expiration. At each level, the measurements were performed three times. It computed the highest value of inspiration and the lowest of expiration. The absolute difference between these values was considered the thoracoabdominal mobility.	Three months
Respiratory muscle strength	Respiratory muscle strength was assessed by measuring maximal respiratory pressures (MRP) with the use of an analog manometer, with operating range of ± 300 cmH2O. The maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) was measured from a maximal expiration, near the residual volume. The maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) was measured from a maximal inspiration, near total lung capacity. Each inspiratory or expiratory effort was sustained for at least two seconds and was respected the 45 seconds between each maneuver. To minimize the learning effect five measurements were performed and the difference between them should be as high as 10%. Was considered for analysis the highest value obtained.	Three months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): August 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 23, 2013
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 23, 2013
• First Posted (Estimate): April 26, 2013

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): April 29, 2013
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 26, 2013
• Last Verified: April 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Exercise; muscle strength; spirometry; physical therapy modalities
• Other Study ID Numbers: Pilates2012