Effect of Muscle Strengthening Training with Pilates Reformer on Overweight/obese and Normal Body Weight Women (PRET) (PRET)

The Physiological Responses of Muscle Strengthening Training with Pilates Reformer in Overweight-obese Women and Women with Normal Body Weight

This study investigates the physiological responses and the metabolic burden of a Pilates Reformer strength training session in physically inactive premenopausal women with a body mass index of 18-24.9 and 25.01-39.9. The sample included 20 women divided into two groups: 10 with normal weight (NW) and 10 with overweight/obesity (OB). In a non-randomised control design, the participants will perform a 60-minute muscle-strengthening session with Pilates Reformer equipment.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Energy Expenditure; Physiological Responses; Strength Training; Overweight and Obese Women; Pilates Exercise
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Pilates Reformer Training

Detailed Description

Pilates Reformer (PR) is one of the most popular types of exercise worldwide and is considered a gentle and safe method for untrained and overweight people. The PR training approach has been found to contribute positively to various health conditions (vascular function, blood pressure, physical fitness, musculoskeletal problems), improving the quality of life and mental well-being of the participants. At the same time, it seems that it can have a positive effect on the lipid profile and other biochemical markers such as insulin and fasting glucose. Furthermore, muscle strengthening training with PR equipment provides better levels of mobility, increasing active range of motion, and also provides greater pelvic and trunk stability for both adult and middle-aged participants.

This study is designed to investigate the physiological and metabolic burden of a muscle-strengthening session with PR equipment in 20 pre-menopausal and physically inactive women with a body mass index (BMI) of 18-24, 99 & 25.01-39.9, as well as to determine the contribution of energy systems (mitochondrial, glycolytic) during and after the exercise. Each training session will last approximately 60 minutes, will be led by at least one trainer, and will include a warm-up of 7-10 minutes, muscle strengthening and mobility exercises of 35 minutes, and a recovery of 5 minutes. Anthropometric indicators, dietary intake, resting heart rate, blood lactate, resting metabolic rate, muscle soreness, rate of perceived exertion, blood pressure, and performance measurements will be measured at baseline. The metabolic cost during PR training session will be estimated from heart rate, blood lactate, resting oxygen uptake, exercise oxygen uptake, and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption measurements using a portable gas analyzer. After the PR training session will be measured the rate of perceived exertion, blood pressure, blood lactate, and muscle soreness levels.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Greece
  • Thessaly
    • Trikala, Thessaly, Greece, 42100
      • Department of Physical Education and Sport Science
    • Trikala, Thessaly, Greece, 42100
      • Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, University of Thessaly

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Be approved for participation by an orthopedist and internist
• Have not followed any diet or nutritional supplements for weight loss in the last six months before the study
• The group with overweight/obesity will consist of women with a body mass index of 25.01 - 39.9 kg/m2
• Be physically Inactive in the last six months before the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Musculoskeletal injury
• Weight loss>10% in 6 months
• <20 years
• >50 years
• Μenopause
• Chronic diseases
• Use of alcohol, caffeine and any type of ergogenic supplements or medication during the study
• Physically active.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Pilates Reformer Training (OW); A group of women with overweight/obesity in this arm will participate in a 60-minute muscle-strengthening training session with Pilates Reformer equipment.	Other: Pilates Reformer Training; Participants will perform a 60-minute Pilates Reformer muscle-strengthening session. The training will include a 7-10 minute warm-up, 35 minutes of muscle strengthening and mobility exercises and a 5-minute recovery. During the training, the physiological responses and the energy expenditure of the participants will be recorded.
Experimental: Pilates Reformer Training (NW); A group of women with normal weight in this arm will participate in a 60-minute muscle-strengthening training session with Pilates Reformer equipment.	Other: Pilates Reformer Training; Participants will perform a 60-minute Pilates Reformer muscle-strengthening session. The training will include a 7-10 minute warm-up, 35 minutes of muscle strengthening and mobility exercises and a 5-minute recovery. During the training, the physiological responses and the energy expenditure of the participants will be recorded.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in exercise-induced energy expenditure	Exercise energy expenditure (kcal) will be measured using a portable indirect calorimetry system	At pre-exercise, 60 minutes during PR training, and 30 minutes after the exercise session (single bout lasting 60 minutes)
Change in excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC)	EPOC (kcal) will be measured using a portable indirect calorimetry system	At 30 minutes after the exercise session (single bout lasting 60 minutes)
Change in blood lactate concentration (BLa)	BLa (mmol/L) concentration will be measured in a microphotometer with commercially available kits	At pre- and post-exercise session (single bout) at 4 minutes post-exercise
Change in heart rate	Heart rate (bpm) will be measured with a wearable heart rate monitor	At pre-exercise, 60 minutes during PR training, and 30 minutes after the exercise session (single bout lasting 60 minutes)
Change in perceived exertion	Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) will be measured with the Borg scale (0-10)	At pre- and post-exercise session (single bout) at 4 minutes post-exercise.
Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER)	Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER) will be measured using a portable indirect calorimetry system	At pre-exercise, 60 minutes during PR training, and 30 minutes after the exercise session (single bout lasting 60 minutes)
Breath Frequency (BF)	Breath Frequency (BF) will be measured using a portable indirect calorimetry system	At pre-exercise, 60 minutes during PR training, and 30 minutes after the exercise session (single bout lasting 60 minutes)
Change in oxygen consumption	Oxygen consumption will be measured using a portable indirect calorimetry system	At pre-exercise, 60 minutes during PR training, and 30 minutes after the exercise session (single bout lasting 60 minutes)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body mass index (BMI)	BMI will be calculated using the Quetelet's equation	At baseline
Waist circumference (WC)	WC (cm) will be measured using a Gullick II tape	At baseline
Hip circumference (HC)	HC (cm) will be measured using a Gullick II tape	At baseline
Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)	WHR will be calculated by dividing the waist by the hip measurement	At baseline
Resting metabolic rate (RMR)	RMR (kcal) will be measured using a portable open-circuit indirect calorimeter with a ventilated hood system	At baseline
Fat mass (FM)	FM (kg) will be assessed by whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)	At baseline
Fat-free mass (FFM)	FFM (kg) will be assessed by whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)	At baseline
Dietary intake	Dietary intake will be assesed over a 7-day period using diet recalls	At baseline
Peak Maximal oxygen consumption (Peak VO2)	Peak VO2 will be estimated by open circuit spirometry via breath by breath method	At baseline
Bone mass density	Bone mass density will be measured by using Dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry	At baseline
Bone mass content	Bone mass content will be measured by using Dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry	At baseline
Rest Heart Rate	The rest heart rate will be estimated using a heart rate monitor	At baseline
Body fat (BF)	Body fat (%) will be assessed by whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)	At baseline
Body weight	Body weight will be measured on a beam balance with a stadiometer	At baseline and at 40 minutes after the exercise session.
Body height	Body height will be measured on a beam balance with a stadiometer	At baseline
Systolic Blood Pressure	Systolic Blood Pressure will be examined using a sphygmomanometer	At pre-exercise, 60 minutes during PR training, and 30 minutes after the exercise session (single bout lasting 60 minutes)
Diastolic Blood Pressure	Diastolic Blood Pressure will be examined using a sphygmomanometer	At pre-exercise, 60 minutes during PR training, and 30 minutes after the exercise session (single bout lasting 60 minutes)
Evaluation of physical activity (PA)	The PA will be evaluated for seven days before the intervention via accelerometry	At baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Thessaly

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 4, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 2, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): January 7, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 31, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 4, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): November 5, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 8, 2025
• Last Verified: January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Obesity; Overweight; Body composition; Blood lactate; Energy Expenditure; Oxygen consumption; Pilates Reformer Training
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Overweight; Body Weight
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2432/09.10.2024

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No