Comparison of Mat Pilates training-induced changes on climateric symptoms in hypertensive and normotensive postmenopausal women

IntroductionPhysical exercise has been used to improve the physiological, metabolic and psychological factors of women. Objective: the aim of this study was to compare the 12-week Mat Pilates training-induced effect on climacteric symptoms in hypertensive and normotensive, non-obese postmenopausal women. Methods: Forty-seven irregularly active, non-obese postmenopausal women participated in the study: 24 normotensive (58 ± 4 years) and 23 hypertensive (58 ± 4 years). They underwent 36 sessions of Mat Pilates in nonconsecutive days during 12 weeks. Climacteric symptoms were assessed by the Cervantes Scale (CER), Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and Blatt-Kupperman Menopause Index (B–K). The unpaired t-test compared the clinical characteristics between the groups. For the analysis of the questionnaires, the Spearman correlation and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the means between the groups for non-parametric data. The generalized estimates equation (GEE) was used to compare the groups and time to score the three general and domain questionnaires. The significance level adopted was ɑ = 0.05. Results: No difference in the Mat Pilates training-induced changes were found between normotensive and hypertensive women, but there was a significant reduction in the scores of the B–K and MRS and in the percentage of disappearance of symptoms by the B–K after training in both groups. Regarding the CER, there was a reduction in symptoms in the total value and the psychological, menopause and health domains. Conclusion: The presence of hypertension did not change the 12-week Mat Pilates training-induced benefits on the climacteric symptoms of non-obese postmenopausal women.     

普拉提运动在孕妇孕期应用的可行性研究

目的:探讨普拉提运动在孕妇孕期应用的可行性。方法:将80例孕妇随机分为对照组和观察组,对照组孕期给予瑜伽训练指导,观察组孕期给予普拉提运动指导,观察比较两组孕妇分娩方式和产程时间。结果:两组孕妇自然分娩率,第一产程、第二产程、第三产程和总产程时间差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);无一例产妇出现流产、早产症状。结论:普拉提运动在孕妇孕期应用效果与瑜伽训练一致,是可行的,且安全可靠。     

Short- and long-term effects of a six-week clinical Pilates program in addition to physical therapy on postmenopausal women with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial

Purpose: To determine the short- and long-term effectiveness of the application of Clinical Pilates in addition to physical therapy versus a physical therapy treatment alone in a population of postmenopausal women with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: A single-blind randomized controlled trial with repeated measures and a follow-up period. One hundred and one patients were randomly allocated to a Pilates?+?physical therapy (PPT) group or to a physical therapy (PT) only group for six weeks. Pain and disability were measured by visual analog scale (VAS) and the Oswestry disability index respectively preintervention, after 6 weeks of treatment and after 1-year follow-up. Results: There were significant differences between groups in pain and disability after 6 weeks of treatment, with better results in the PPT group with an effect size of d?=?3.14 and d?=?2.33 for pain and disability. After 1-year follow-up, only PPT group showed better results compared with baseline with an effect size of d?=?2.49 and d?=?4.98 for pain and disability. Conclusion: The results suggest that using Clinical Pilates in addition to physical therapy provides improved results on pain management and functional status for postmenopausal woman with CLBP and that its benefits still linger after one year.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• Chronic Low Back Pain could benefit from the Pilates practice in postmenopausal women.

• Improvement in pain and disability derived from CLBP seem to be maintained over time due to Pilates practice.

• Pilates constitutes a safe tool to be applied in older population with CLBP due to its ability to be adapted to every performance and physical level.

     

Pilates training improves aerobic capacity,but not lipid or lipoprotein levels in elderly women with dyslipidemia: A controlled trial

IntroductionThe aim of the present study was to verify the effects of a Pilates training on total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), glucose and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, as well as on functionality of postmenopausal women with dyslipidemia.MethodThis randomized study involved 35 sedentary women with dyslipidemia, aged between 60 and 75 years. One group participated in a Pilates exercises training with two to four weekly sessions during 10 weeks (Pilates group, n = 20) and the other group did not perform any intervention (control group, n = 6). Biochemical analyses and functionality parameters were measured before and after the 10 weeks.ResultsNo significant differences were observed in TC, TG, LDL and HDL for both groups. Regarding glucose and CRP levels, significant reductions were observed in both groups after the intervention period. In functional parameters, both groups significantly increased their 30-s chair stand test values. On the other hand, only the Pilates group presented significant increments in the 6-min walk test (p < 0.05).ConclusionPilates training did not change lipid or lipoprotein levels, but improved cardiorespiratory fitness of elderly women with dyslipidemia.     

Effect of a 12-week aerobic training program on perceptual and affective responses in obese women

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to observe the effect of self-selected intensity or imposed intensity during aerobic training on perceptual and affective responses in obese women. [Subjects] The study included 26 obese women aged 30–60 years. [Methods] The subjects were randomly divided into two groups, with 13 subjects in each group: self-selected intensity and imposed intensity (10% above ventilatory threshold) groups. All subjects completed an intervention program that lasted 12 weeks, with three exercise sessions a week. The rating of perceived exertion and affective responses (Feeling Scale and Felt Arousal Scale) were monitored in the first, sixth, and twelfth weeks. [Results] Significant differences were observed between groups in heart rate and rating of perceived exertion. The affective responses during exercise were more negative in the imposed intensity group. [Conclusion] Use of a self-selected exercise intensity can promote smaller negative affective responses during exercise and provide a sufficient stimulus for improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness.Key words: Self-selected exercise, Rating of perceived exertion, Affective responses     

C反应蛋白水平与高血压女性患糖代谢异常的危险性研究--附514例分析

目的:研究C反应蛋白(C-reactive protein,CRP)与高血压病人患糖代谢异常的危险性.方法:对514例高血压病人(男274例,女240例)的临床资料,包括年龄、病程、体重指数、烟酒消耗量、血压、血糖、血胰岛素、CRP值、女病人是否绝经等进行回顾性分析,估计发生糖代谢异常的危险因素及各因素的相对危险度.结果:在男女两组病人中CRP与空腹血糖(女r=0.32,P＜0.01;男r=0.21,P＜0.05)和胰岛素抵抗指数(女r=0.26,P＜0.01;男r=0.16,P＜0.05)均呈正相关.高血压合并糖代谢异常的女病人CRP水平显著高于单纯高血压患者(P＜0.01),而男病人无此表现(P＞0.05).在平衡了其他危险因素后,中CRP组和高CRP组女病人发生糖代谢异常的危险性远远高于低CRP组(P＜0.0001),而在男病人中CRP的不同水平对患糖代谢异常的危险性没有差别.结论:CRP是女高血压病人惠糖代谢异常危险性的敏感指标,而对男病人则无此作用.     

Profile of blood pressure and glycemic responses after interval exercise in older women attending (in) a public health physical activity program

Backgroundand purpose: Interval exercise causes a positive impact on health status. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of a feasible and low-cost interval exercise on blood pressure and glycemic responses in people with controlled systemic arterial hypertension.MethodsThirteen women with hypertension (HG; age: 60.2 ± 2.8 years) and 11 without hypertension (CG; age: 54.4 ± 3.8 years) were recruited. Groups performed one session of interval exercise with elastic resistance (10 series of 1:1 min/effort:rest).ResultsThere were slight reductions of absolute systolic blood pressure values for HG at 10, 30, and 60 min (4, 9, and 8 mmHg, respectively) at post-compared to pre-exercise. Glycemia was reduced (respectively, 17.6%, 17.6%, 19.4%, and 23.1%; p < 0.05) at pre-exercise vs. 0 min and 10, 30, and 60 min post-exercise for the HG.ConclusionA single session of a feasible and low-cost interval exercise modifies and promotes significant clinical effects in blood pressure and glycemic levels in female older adults with and without hypertension.     

Pilates for low risk pregnant women: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPilates has growing appeal to pregnant women, as a form of exercise and relaxation. It is purported to benefit lumbo-pelvic stability, as well as motor control, strength and endurance. Some suggest that modified Pilates exercises may assist low risk pregnant women to enjoy a healthier pregnancy and prepare for the physical demands of labour and birth. The feasibility and safety of Pilates during pregnancy is poorly understood. We describe the protocol for a feasibility study designed to compare a midwife-led 6-week community-based Pilates intervention with standard antenatal care.MethodsA convenience sample of 30 low-risk pregnant women will be recruited from private obstetric clinics in Melbourne, Australia. Participants shall be randomly allocated to a six-week, 1-h weekly Pilates exercises group session or to usual care. The Pilates exercise class will have a warm-up phase, Pilates exercises, breathing exercises, and a cool down phase. Exercises have been designed to prepare for active birth. The primary outcome will be feasibility of implementation, determined by recruitment, retention, adherence and safety. Secondary outcomes include women's health (quality of life, pain, mobility for daily activities, lower extremity performance, abdominal separation, continence) and labour and birth outcomes (duration of first stage and second stage labour, analgesia used, mode of birth). Validated questionnaires will include the Quality of life 12-item short form survey; Pregnancy Mobility Index, and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire. Lower extremity performance and abdominal separation will also be measured.DiscussionThis trial will provide preliminary data regarding the feasibility and safety of Pilates exercise in healthy pregnant women. It will also provide preliminary outcome data used to inform the design of a future large scale, multi-centre RCT.Trial registrationThis clinical trial has been registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry 2016 (ACTRN12616000809437).     

Effects of 16-weeks of Pilates on functional autonomy and life satisfaction among elderly women

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of Pilates-based mat exercises on functional autonomy and life satisfaction among elderly women. A randomized controlled trial was conducted in Caxias do Sul, Brazil in 2015, in which 61 healthy older women were randomized into two groups (experimental group, EG = 31 participants with 64.25 mean years of age, SD = 0.14, and a control group, CG = 30 participants, 63.75 mean years of age; SD = 0.08). The EG participants performed the mat Pilates twice per week, 60-min per session. The same measurements were performed at baseline and after 16 weeks. No significant differences were found between groups at baseline (p > 0.05). In the EG, the following factors were increased after the 16-weeks training period: flexibility of lower limbs, flexibility of upper limbs, strength in lower and upper limbs, aerobic endurance and dynamic balance. This study revealed significant improvements on the life satisfaction scale's score for the EG when compared to the CG, after 16 weeks of intervention. No differences were found between baseline and after 16 weeks on the functional autonomy and life satisfaction scores for the CG. According to the results of this study, it was found that functional autonomy and life satisfaction for elderly women was improved after exposure to 16 weeks of the PM, suggesting this practice helps with healthy aging.     

Effects of Pilates training VS. Suspension training on quality of life in women with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial

IntroductionOsteoarthritis is the most common synovial joint disease and is characterized by progressive destruction of the articular cartilage. This study aimed to compare the effect of Pilates and suspension training in patients with knee Osteoarthritis.MethodsThe participants in this randomized trial study were patients with knee Osteoarthritis. In this study, 30 females (61.40 ± 4.85 years) were divided into three groups of suspension training, Pilates, and control group. Participants were randomly assigned to 8-week (3x/week, 1 h/session) Pilates and suspension training program groups. The static and dynamic balance, range of motion, and knee function were respectively measured by The Stork stand balance test, Y balance test, Goniometers, and The WOMAC performance disability questionnaire. To analyze the findings, a dependent sample t-test, covariance test, and Bonferroni's post hoc test were used (P ≤ 0.05).ResultsDynamic and static balance in the suspension training and Pilates training caused a significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) compared to the control group. Also, the range of motion and motor performance in the suspension training and Pilates training showed a significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) compared to the control group. The suspension training compared to the Pilates training was more effective on dynamic and static balance (P ≤ 0.05). Also, the suspension training compared to the Pilates training had more effect on Range of motion and Motor performance (P ≤ 0.05).ConclusionIt seems that Pilates and suspension training can be used in medical centers as a complementary rehabilitation method among female patients with knee Osteoarthritis to improve the dynamic and static balance, range of motion, and performance.     

Serum creatine kinase activity and its changes after a muscle biopsy

Summary. The significance of the absolute elevations of serum creatine kinase (CK) levels after intense exercise and injuries was studied by measuring CK activities from seven healthy active males during a 2-week period, with a muscle biopsy taken between the first and second week. Most of the subjects (three lifters and two runners) carried on their normal exercise activities, while two lifters stopped training during the 2 weeks. The weight of the biopsy, number of fibres, percentage of fibre types, and cross-sectional areas of the muscle fibres were measured. The CK levels of the nonactive subjects and runners remained consistently low during the control week, whereas those of the lifters were usually 500% greater than those of the other two groups, and fluctuated with the intensity of their workouts. A muscle biopsy, having a mean weight of 71.3 mg and containing 1800 fibres, increased the CK values by approximately 100 units litre^-1 (U1^-1) in most of the subjects. One runner injured his right hamstring muscles 2 days prior to the biopsy, and his CK values rose from 50 to 4400 U I^-1. The increases in CK after the biopsy were not related to fibre type, activity, weight of the biopsy, or number or size of fibres removed. These results indicate that:

• 1 CK values are consistently lower in normal subjects and runners than in lifters.
• 2 Weight training results in chronic elevations of CK.
• 3 Compared to a muscle biopsy, muscular injury dramatically increases CK levels.
• 4 Elevation of serum CK is observed as early as 1 h after an intense weight-lifting session.
• 5 The elevation of serum CK by 100 U 1^-1 is associated with damage to approximately 2000 fibres.

     

The effects of Pilates training on static and dynamic balance of female deaf students: A randomized controlled trial

IntroductionTo evaluate the effect of Pilates training on static and dynamic balance of deaf female.MethodsThis study is a randomized, controlled trial with concealed randomization and blinded assessments. 19 female deaf students participated in this study and were randomly assigned into experimental (EXP, n = 9) and control (CON, n = 10) groups. Static balance was examined by Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), and dynamic balance was examined by Y balance test (YBT). The experimental group performed a Pilates training program for 8 weeks (three sessions of 60 min).ResultsThe findings showed that experimental group showed a significant change in static balance (with open eye and close eye) and dynamic balance (dominant limb and non-dominant limb) after 8 weeks Pilates training (p < 0.05). The control also showed no significant changes after training duration (p > 0.05).ConclusionsThis study showed that Pilates training significantly improve balance in female deaf students.     

The effects of a 12-week strength-training program on strength and functionality in women with fibromyalgia

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether women with fibromyalgia benefit from strength training. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Testing was completed at the university and training was completed at a local community wellness facility. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-nine women (age range, 18-54 y) with fibromyalgia participated. Subjects were randomly assigned to a control (n=14; wait-listed for exercise) or strength (n=15) group. After the first 4 weeks, 7 (47%) women dropped from the strength group. INTERVENTION: Subjects underwent 12 weeks of training on 11 exercises, 2 times a week, performing 1 set of 8 to 12 repetitions at 40% to 60% of their maximal lifts and were progressed to 60% to 80%. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjects were measured for strength, functionality, tender point sensitivity, and fibromyalgia impact. RESULTS: The strength group significantly (P< or =.05) improved upper- (strength, 39+/-11 to 42+/-12 kg; control, 38+/-13 to 38+/-12 kg) and lower- (strength, 68+/-28 to 82+/-25 kg; control, 61+/-25 to 61+/-26 kg) body strength. Upper-body functionality measured by the Continuous-Scale Physical Functional Performance test improved significantly (strength, 44+/-11 to 50+/-16U; control, 51+/-11 to 49+/-13U) after training. Tender point sensitivity and fibromyalgia impact did not change. CONCLUSIONS: Strength training improved strength and some functionality in women with fibromyalgia. Interventions with resistance have important implications on independence and quality of life issues for women with fibromyalgia.     

Effects of topical essential oil on exercise volume after a 12-week exercise program for women with fibromyalgia: a pilot study

OBJECTIVES: We determined--in women with fibromyalgia (FM)--effects of essential oils used with a 12-week exercise program on exercise volume, pain, physical performance, and physical function. DESIGN: This was a randomized clinical trial comparing 024 essential oil with sham oil combined with exercise. Settings: Settings included community sites in southern California. SUBJECTS: The study included 20 women randomized to 024 oil, 23 to sham oil. INTERVENTIONS: Women were trained in oil application before exercise, at bedtime on exercise days; the 12-week program included weekly group sessions with trained leaders guided by a prerecorded regimen (allowing choice of program level) plus 2 days of home exercise with the recorded regimen. OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary: Exercise volume (number of days exercised multiplied by exercise level--intensity and duration). Secondary: Pain (Brief Pain Inventory), measures of physical performance (30-second chair stands, 6-minute walk, multidimensional balance), and self-reported physical function (Composite Physical Function scale). RESULTS: The average participant was 54 years old, had some college education, was married, Caucasian, and minimally/mildly depressed. There was no significant difference in exercise volume between women using 024 as compared with those using sham oil after 12 weeks (depression as covariate). There were no significant group nor pre- to postexercise changes in pain intensity or interference. There were greater positive changes in 30-second chair stands, 6-minute walk distance, and multidimensional balance scores in the 024 group than in the sham group, but these were not significant. The counterirritant 024 oil was not different from the sham oil in its effect on exercise volume (frequency, exercise level--intensity and duration) for women with FM. It is unknown whether 024 actually decreases local pain when used with exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Increases in physical function found, while not significant, may be attributable to the exercise regimen or to the interaction of the oils and exercise regimen.