Core Stability, Postural Balance, and Flexibility in Healthy Women: A Comparative Study Between Pilates Practitioners and Sedentary Individuals (CSBF-P)

This study aims to compare core muscle stability, postural balance, and flexibility between healthy women who regularly practice Pilates and those with a sedentary lifestyle. The researcher will evaluate if long-term Pilates practice (5 months or more) leads to significant improvements in physical performance compared to a lack of regular exercise. Assessment tools include the Pressure Biofeedback Unit (PBU) for core activation, the McGill battery for endurance, the Y-Balance test for dynamic stability, and the Sit-and-Reach test for flexibility.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Postural Balance; Healthy Life Style; Pilates; Core Stability; Pilates, Core Stability

Detailed Description

This cross-sectional comparative study involves 55 healthy female participants divided into two groups: a Pilates group (minimum 5 months of practice, twice weekly) and a sedentary control group (less than 150 minutes of physical activity per week). To ensure objectivity and high-quality data, an "Assessor Blinding" protocol will be implemented, where the investigator performing physical measurements remains unaware of the participants' group allocation.

Primary outcomes include:

1. Deep muscle stabilization measured via a Pressure Biofeedback Unit (PBU) in a prone position.
2. Core endurance assessed using the McGill Core Endurance Battery (Flexor, Extensor, and Side Bridge tests).
3. Dynamic postural balance evaluated through the Y-Balance Test (YBT) in anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions.
4. Static balance measured by the Single Leg Stance Test (SLST) with eyes open and closed.
5. Hamstring and lower back flexibility assessed by the Sit and Reach Test. Statistical analysis will be performed using IBM SPSS version 26.0 to compare the outcomes between the two groups.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 55

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: WALA Abbas Mohammed TAHA, PT specialist; Phone Number: +966565787745 +905384112497; Email: 2433095066@stu.istinye.edu.tr

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Zeytinburnu
    • Istanbul, Zeytinburnu, Turkey (Türkiye), 34010
      • Recruiting
      • Istinye University, Topkapi Campus
      • Contact: WALA Abbas Mohammed TAHA PT. MSc student, PT Specialist,master's student; Phone Number: +966565787745 +905384112497; Email: 2433095066@stu.istinye.edu.tr
      • Contact: NALAN Soydaş. Assistant Professor,, PhD; Phone Number: +90 535 010 54 61; Email: nalan.engin@istinye.edu.tr
      • Principal Investigator: WALA TAHA, PT. MSc student
      • Principal Investigator: Nalan Soydaş, PhD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy adult women from the general community and Pilates studios in Istanbul, Turkey.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Healthy female volunteers aged 20-45.
2. For the Pilates group: having practiced mat Pilates, reformer Pilates, or any equipment-based Pilates discipline for at least 6 months; attending regular 60-minute sessions at least twice a week with a certified instructor.
3. For the control group: having a sedentary lifestyle (weekly moderate physical activity time less than 150 minutes).
4. Objectively demonstrating sedentary status using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ); only participants in the "low physical activity" category will be included in the control group.
5. Having full cognitive ability to understand, follow, and execute all physical assessment instructions.
6. Willingness to voluntarily sign the informed consent form prior to the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of any surgery involving the spine, pelvis, or lower extremities within the last 12 months prior to the study.
2. Currently pregnant or less than 6 months postpartum.
3. Diagnosed vestibular disorders or chronic clinical balance disorders.
4. History of neurological disease (MS, Parkinson's, etc.) or systemic metabolic disorder (diabetes, etc.).
5. Having a pain intensity greater than 2/10 on the visual analog scale (VAS) in the lower back or lower extremities.
6. Professional sports history or participation in other exercise programs exceeding 3 hours per week (excluding Pilates for the Pilates group).
7. Acute musculoskeletal injuries or acute illnesses that may affect energy levels on the day of evaluation.
8. Concurrent participation in other intensive core strengthening programs such as "advanced yoga" that may affect results.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Pilates Group; Healthy women who have regularly practiced Pilates exercises for at least 5 months, with a minimum of two sessions per week.
Sedentary Group; Healthy women with a sedentary lifestyle, defined as having less than 150 minutes of physical activity per week and no regular exercise routine in the past 3 months.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Deep Muscle Stabilization Pressure Biofeedback Device - PBU	Measurement of the transversus abdominis muscle activation using a Pressure Biofeedback Unit (PBU).isolation is confirmed by a drop in pressure of 4-10 mmHg from a 70 mmHg baseline, sustained for 10 seconds in prone position.	At the single assessment session (Day 1)
Core Muscle Endurance	Measured using the McGill Core Endurance Battery, including the Trunk Flexor, Trunk Extensor, and Side Bridge tests. Results are recorded as the duration (in seconds) the position is maintained.	At the single assessment session (Day 1)
Dynamic Postural Balance Y-Balance Test (YBT)	Assessed using the Y-Balance Test (YBT). The maximum reach distance in three directions (Anterior, Posteromedial, and Posterolateral) will be recorded in centimeters	At the single assessment session (Day 1)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Static Postural Balance Test or Single Leg Standing Test (SLST)	The participant should stand on their dominant leg with their hands on their hips. Conditions: The test is performed under two conditions: Eyes open and eyes closed. Measurement: The time it takes to maintain this balance without putting the foot down or moving it is measured in seconds.	At the single assessment session (Day 1)
Lower Back and Hamstring Flexibility	ssessed using the Sit and Reach Test. The reach distance is measured in centimeters using a standard test box	At the single assessment session (Day 1)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Istinye University
• Investigators: Study Director: NALAN Soydaş, PhD, Istinye University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Alshehre Y, Alkhathami K, Brizzolara K, Weber M, Wang-Price S. Reliability and Validity of the Y-balance Test in Young Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2021 Jun 1;16(3):628-635. doi: 10.26603/001c.23430.
• Fallahasady E, Rahmanloo N, Seidi F, Rajabi R, Bayattork M. The relationship between core muscle endurance and functional movement screen scores in females with lumbar hyperlordosis: a cross-sectional study. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2022 Oct 13;14(1):182. doi: 10.1186/s13102-022-00567-2.
• De Blaiser C, Roosen P, Willems T, De Bleecker C, Vermeulen S, Danneels L, De Ridder R. The role of core stability in the development of non-contact acute lower extremity injuries in an athletic population: A prospective study. Phys Ther Sport. 2021 Jan;47:165-172. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2020.11.035. Epub 2020 Nov 30.
• Wells C, Kolt GS, Bialocerkowski A. Defining Pilates exercise: a systematic review. Complement Ther Med. 2012 Aug;20(4):253-62. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2012.02.005. Epub 2012 Mar 13.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): May 13, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 13, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 3, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 5, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 11, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 11, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 5, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Sedentary Behavior; Pilates; Women's Health; Flexibility; Trunk Muscle Endurance; Y-Balance Test; Pressure Biofeedback Unit (PBU); McGill Battery
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Sedentary Behavior
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2026/53

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of the participants, as per the ethical approval guidelines of Istinye University. The aggregated results will be published as part of the Master's thesis and potential academic publications.

Drug and device information, study documents

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