Pilates vs Aerobic Exercises on Vitamin D and Ionized Calcium in Postnatal

Effect of Pilates Versus Aerobic Exercises on Vitamin D Level and Ionized Calcium in Postnatal Women

Vitamin D and calcium levels are negatively affected during postpartum period, making postnatal woman more vulnerable to health issues and consequently lowering her quality of life. Twelve-weeks of Pilates training have improved serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and changed anthropometry in inactive overweight women. It is well-known globally that aerobic exercise is low to moderate-intensity physical activity.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Vitamin D; Postnatal Women
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Exercise; Other: Exercise

Detailed Description

This study will be conducted to determine the difference between the effect of Pilates and aerobic exercises on serum levels of vitamin D, ionized calcium and osteocalcin in postnatal women. The practical aspect of the study will be conducted at the Out Patient Clinic of Al-Zahraa University Hospital, Al Azahar University, Cairo, Egypt. Sixty postnatal women will participate in this study. Their ages range will be from 18 to 40 and their BMI range will be from 25-35 kg/ m². All women will be postnatal period by 6-12 weeks, as well healthy primipara or multipara. The participants will be randomly assign into two equal groups by using a sealed envelope method; group A (Pilates exercises group) will include thirty postnatal women, whom will perform Pilates exercises for 12 weeks, and group (B), (Aerobic exercises group)will include thirty postnatal women, whom will perform aerobic exercises program for 12 weeks. Will assess vitamin D, Ionized calcium and osteocalcin for all participants at the start and after the treatment program, then will statistically analyze the data.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Ahmed A Tolba, M.Sc.; Phone Number: 105 +20100352075; Email: eth.com@pt.cu.edu.eg
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Afaf M Botla, Professor; Phone Number: 105 +20100352075; Email: eth.com@pt.cu.edu.eg

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Al Zahraa University Hospital
    • Cairo, Al Zahraa University Hospital, Egypt, 11731
      • AlZahraa University Hospital
      • Contact: Mohamed A Awad, Professor; Phone Number: 105 +20100135075; Email: eth.com@pt.cu.edu.eg
      • Contact: Afaf M Botla, Professor; Phone Number: 105 +20100135075; Email: eth.com@pt.cu.edu.eg
      • Principal Investigator: Ahmed A Tolba, M.S.c
      • Sub-Investigator: AbdelHamid A AttaAllah, PRofessor

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Their ages were ranged from 18-40 years old.
2. Their body mass index (BMI) was ranged from 25-35 kg/ m².
3. They were postnatal period by 6-12 weeks.
4. They were primipara or multipara.
5. They were healthy postpartum women.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. High risk pregnant history.
2. Sever postpartum complications.
3. Cardiovascular diseases i.e., utilizing pace maker.
4. Skeletal deformity.
5. Participation at any other exercise training program during this study.
6. Malignant conditions.
7. History of acute infection
8. Neurological problem; epileptic fits…etc.
9. Mental problem to prevent evaluation and cooperation.
10. Renal, liver or endocrinal disorders.
11. Pulmonary disorders.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental Group A (Pilates exercises group); Experimental Group A (Pilates exercises group) will be thirty postnatal women will perform Pilates exercises for 12 weeks, 3 sessions per week for 60 minutes	Other: Exercise; Pilates exercises program will include twelve movements: Bridging, Roll Up, Pilates Hundred, One Leg Circle (both ways), Single Straight Leg Stretch, Double Leg Stretch, Spine Stretch Forward Single Leg Kick, Side Kick up and down, Side Kick circles, Curling.; Other: Exercise; 20 minutes walking on the treadmill at moderate intensity (70% of the maximal heart rate).
Experimental: Experimental Group B(Aerobic exercises group); Experimental Group B(Aerobic exercises group) will be thirty postnatal women will perform aerobic exercises for 12 weeks, 3 sessions per week for 60 minutes	Other: Exercise; Pilates exercises program will include twelve movements: Bridging, Roll Up, Pilates Hundred, One Leg Circle (both ways), Single Straight Leg Stretch, Double Leg Stretch, Spine Stretch Forward Single Leg Kick, Side Kick up and down, Side Kick circles, Curling.; Other: Exercise; 20 minutes walking on the treadmill at moderate intensity (70% of the maximal heart rate).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Vitamin D serum level	High-performance liquid chromatography (Shimadzu, Japan) was used to assess 25(OH)D serum levels before and after the study program in both groups, using 25-OH vitamin D ELISA. Kits (Life Sciences Inc. USA). Values of 25(OH)D < 20 ng/ml are considered deficient, values ranged 21 to 29 ng/ml are considered insufficient, and 30 ng/ml is considered ideal	At baseline, and Immediately post-intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Ionized calcium serum level	serum ionized calcium levels measured before and after the intervention, using Easy Lyte Ca analyzer (USA) which utilizes ISE (Ion Selective Electrode) technology in order to measure electrolyte. The manufacturer's instructions were followed at all times. In adults (18-60 years), the reference value of serum calcium is 1.05-1.3 mmol/L	At baseline, and Immediately post-intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Adly A Adam
• Investigators: Study Director: Mohamed A Awad, Professor, Cairo University; Study Chair: AbdelHamid A AttalAllah, Professor, AlZahraaUniversity

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): May 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 25, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 30, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 5, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 5, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 30, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Exercise
• Other Study ID Numbers: P.T.REC/012/006316

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

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