Pilates Plus Whole-Body Vibration in Postmenopausal Women (Pilates_WBV)

Pilates Plus Whole-body Vibration on Bone Mass, Muscle Strength, Balance and Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Women

This controlled, quasi-experimental clinical trial investigated the effects of a combined Pilates and whole-body vibration (WBV) intervention on bone mineral density (BMD), muscle strength, postural balance, and quality of life in postmenopausal women. Fifteen women aged 50-71 years initially served as a historical control group in a previous study. After completion of that protocol, ten of these participants underwent a 26-week combined intervention consisting of supervised Pilates exercises and WBV performed three times per week.

BMD was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Peak torque of the lower limbs was measured by isokinetic dynamometry. Postural balance was evaluated using a force platform, and quality of life was assessed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire. Outcomes obtained after the combined intervention were compared with those from the historical control phase.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Postmenopausal Women
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Pilates plus whole-body vibration

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 10
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

(a) no engagement in structured physical exercise for at least six months prior to enrollment; (b) agreement to refrain from participating in any additional physical exercise programs during the study period; (c) ability to perform activities of daily living independently23, 24; (d) presentation of a medical certificate confirming fitness to engage in physical exercise; (e) cognitive status score > 19 on the Mini-Mental State Examination25; and (f) no use of medications aimed at increasing BMD or muscle mass within the previous 12 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

(a) personal decision; (b) adverse events that make participation impossible.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Pilates plus WBV; Pilates exercises combined with whole-body vibration.

Other: Pilates plus whole-body vibration; The intervention consisted of a combined protocol integrating supervised mat-based Pilates exercises with whole-body vibration (WBV) performed on a side-alternating vibrating platform. Sessions were conducted three times per week for 26 weeks. Each session included structured Pilates exercises targeting core stability, postural alignment, and lower-limb strengthening, immediately followed by WBV exposure with controlled frequency and amplitude parameters. This combined protocol differs from previous interventions conducted in the same population, in which Pilates and WBV were applied separately. The present study specifically investigated the potential additive or synergistic effects of simultaneously implementing both modalities within the same training session, which had not been previously examined in this cohort.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Lumbar spine BMD	Lumbar spine bone mineral density	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Femoral neck BMD	Femoral neck bone mineral density	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Total hip BMD	Total hip bne mineral density	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Trochanter BMD	Trochanter bone mineral density	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Knee extensor strength at 60º/s	Peak isokinetic torque of the knee extensor muscles at 60º/s	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Knee flexor strength at 60º/s	Peak isokinetic torque of knee flexor muscles at 60º/s	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Knee extensor strength 180º/s	Peak isokinetic torque of knee extensor muscles at 180º/s	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Knee flexor strength 180º/s	Peak isokinetic torque of knee flexor muscles at 180º/s	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Static balance with bipedal support and eyes open (area - cm2)	Bipedal support with eyes open (area - cm2)	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Static balance with bipedal support and eyes closed (area - cm2)	Bipedal support with eyes closed (area - cm2)	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Static balance with semi-tandem support and eyes open (area - cm2)	Semi-tandem support with eyes open (area - cm2)	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Static balance with semi-tandem support and eyes closed (area - cm2)	Semi-tandem support with eyes closed (area - cm2)	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Static balance with unipedal support and eyes open (area - cm2)	Unipedal support with eyes open (area - cm2)	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Static balance with bipedal support and eyes open (anteroposterior displacement - cm/s)	Bipedal support with eyes open (anteroposterior displacement - cm/s)	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Static balance with bipedal support and eyes closed (anteroposterior displacement - cm/s)	Bipedal support with eyes closed (anteroposterior displacement - cm/s)	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Static balance with semi-tandem support and eyes open (anteroposterior displacement - cm/s)	Semi-tandem support with eyes open (anteroposterior displacement - cm/s)	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Static balance with semi-tandem support and eyes closed (anteroposterior displacement - cm/s)	Semi-tandem support with eyes closed (anteroposterior displacement - cm/s)	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Static balance with unipedal support and eyes open (anteroposterior displacement - cm/s)	Unipedal support with eyes open (anteroposterior displacement - cm/s)	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Static balance with bipedal support and eyes open (medial-lateral displacement - cm/s)	Bipedal support with eyes open (medial-lateral displacement - cm/s)	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Static balance with bipedal support and eyes closed (medial-lateral displacement - cm/s)	Bipedal support with eyes closed (medial-lateral displacement - cm/s)	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Static balance with semi-tandem support and eyes open (medial-lateral displacement - cm/s)	Semi-tandem support with eyes open (medial-lateral displacement - cm/s)	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Static balance with semi-tandem support and eyes closed (medial-lateral displacement - cm/s)	Semi-tandem support with eyes closed (medial-lateral displacement - cm/s)	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Static balance with unipedal support and eyes open (medial-lateral displacement - cm/s)	Unipedal support with eyes open (medial-lateral displacement - cm/s)	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Quality of life (SF-36) - Physical Functioning	Physical Functioning Domain	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Quality of life (SF-36) - Role-Physical	Role-Physical Domain	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Quality of life (SF-36) - Bodily Pain	Bodily Pain Domain	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Quality of life (SF-36) - General Health	General Health Domain	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Quality of life (SF-36) - Vitality	Vitality Domain	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Quality of life (SF-36) - Social Functioning	Social Functioning Domain	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Quality of life (SF-36) - Role-Emotional	Role-Emotional Domain	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months
Quality of life (SF-36) - Mental Health	Mental Health Domain	From enrollment to the end of treatment, in 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidade Estadual do Norte do Parana

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 5, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 25, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): July 31, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 3, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 3, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 10, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 3, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: Pilates_WBV

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: The data will be available in a public repository.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Free
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Free

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No