Background: The objective of this systematic review was to determine the efficacy of the mat Pilates method on body composition in healthy adult subjects compared with traditional exercise or control condition models. Design: Systematic review with meta-analysis. Data sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, PEDro, SciELO, CINAHAL, and the Cochrane Library. Results: A total of 10 eligible studies were selected for revision. The findings of this review demonstrated that the mat Pilates method was not more effective than the traditional exercise or control condition models for the analyzed variables (body mass index, lean mass, body fat percentage, and abdominal circumference). Moreover, in the exploratory analysis with older people, adults, and overweight/obese individuals, the mat Pilates method was also not superior for the analyzed outcomes. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the mat Pilates method is no better than the control condition or other types of training to reduce body composition.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of 12-week Pilates training program on cardiac autonomic modulation. Materials & methods: A randomized controlled trial of a 12-week Pilates training program was conducted. A total of 54 men were randomly allocated to either a control or a Pilates group. Initially, the RR intervals were captured for 20 min for later analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). The training protocol was then initiated, in which the Pilates group performed 36 sessions of the Pilates method for approximately 60 min each session, three-times a week, totaling 12 weeks. The control group was instructed to maintain their normal activities during this period. One week after the end of the training, the final evaluations were performed with the capture of RR intervals in both the groups. Linear indices in the time (SDNN and rMSSD) and frequency (low frequency [LF] and high frequency [HF]) domains, and the Poincaré plot (SD1 and SD2) were used. Nonlinear indices were also analyzed (approximate entropy and detrended fluctuation analysis). Descriptive statistics and generalized mixed models were performed. Results: There was a group effect for LF (ms2) and a time effect for SD2. There was a training effect observed by the time*group interactions in which an increase in global HRV indices was found for the Pilates group after 12 weeks (SDNN: mean difference [MD] = 9.82; standard deviation [SD] = 18.52; ES = -0.514; LF [ms2]: MD = 334.23; SD = 669.43; ES = -0.547; SD2: MD = 14.58; SD = 24.28; ES = -0.693). Conclusion: A 12-week Pilates training program promotes significant improvement in global modulation of HRV in the Pilates group considering the significant increase in SDNN, LF (ms2) and SD2 indices. Trial registration number: NCT03232866 .

Aim: To compare the acute effects of low-load resistance training associated with blood flow restriction (LLRT-BFR) with low-load resistance training (LLRT) and high-load resistance training (HLRT) on cardiovascular outcomes in healthy individuals. Methods: This review was registered and the studies were selected using seven databases. Randomized controlled clinical trials were included that evaluated LLRT-BFR compared with LLRT and HLRT in young individuals for the cardiovascular outcomes. Results: 19 studies were included. In the comparison of LLRT-BFR with HLRT, there were significant differences for cardiac output and heart rate – with reduced values and in favor of LLRT-BFR. Conclusion: There are no greater acute effects of the addition of blood flow restriction, with the exception of the reduction in cardiac output and heart rate for LLRT-BFR compared with HLRT.

Os treinamentos aeróbio intervalado e resistido são utilizados na prevenção e tratamento da Síndrome Metabólica (SMet), porém há lacunas quanto às diferentes metodologias aplicadas. O objetivo foi analisar e comparar o comportamento da pressão arterial após treinamentos periodizado aeróbio e resistido em adultos com Síndrome Metabólica. Vinte e nove voluntários, sedentários de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 35 e 60 anos com SMet, foram aleatorizados em 3 grupos: treinamento aeróbio intervalado (TAI; n=9), treinamento resistido (TRC; n=11) e o grupo controle (n=9). O programa foi constituído por 3 sessões semanais durante 12 semanas. Antes e após o treinamento foi mensurada a pressão arterial em repouso. Houve diminuição da pressão arterial sistólica de 7mmHg no grupo TAI, sem significância estatística. Não foram observadas alterações na pressão arterial diastólica. Após ambos treinamentos periodizados não foram observados mudanças na pressão arterial em participantes com SMet. Palavras-chave: Síndrome metabólica, pressão arterial, treinamento de resistência, exercício.

Background: The resistance training with blood flow restriction (BFR) presents results in strength gain and muscle hypertrophy. However, there are no data that evaluate the long-term adaptation of the autonomic nervous system and its influence on the performance, especially with eccentric contractions.Objective: To perform a systematic autonomous monitoring during eccentric training with BFR at different loads and to correlate them with possible changes in the performance Methods: This is a 4-arms, randomized controlled and single blind trial. Sixty men were randomized in four groups: low and high load eccentric exercise (LL and HL); LL and HL with BFR (LL-BFR and HL-BFR). The participants underwent 18 sessions of eccentric exercise for the dominant quadriceps femoris muscle in the isokinetic dynamometer. The performance (strength through isometric, concentric and eccentric peaks torque on the isokinetic dynamometer and Single-leg Hop Test) was evaluated 1 week before, in the fourth week and 1 week after the end of the training programme. Heart rate variability (HRV) through vagal and global indices was evaluated daily for 15 min before each session.Results: There was a significant correlation between performance and HRV for LL and HL-BFR groups, with an increase in parasympathetic indices in the first group and an increase in performance in the second group. Conclusion:HRV indices are correlated with performance. However, in the LL group, there was an increase in parasympathetic indices without repercussions on performance while, in the HL-BFR group, there was an increase in performance and no repercussion in the autonomic indices.

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Background studies on eccentric training with blood flow restriction (BFR) still has gaps, especially in strength and muscle hypertrophy. Therefore, the objective of the study was analyzed and compare the effects of six weeks of eccentric training of knee extensors at different load associated or not with BFR on strength, hypertrophy, and motor performance of knee extensors. Methods 61 men performed six weeks of quadriceps muscle eccentric training in isokinetic dynamometer were randomized into four groups: high-load eccentric training with BFR (HLET-BFR), low-load eccentric training with BFR (LLET-BFR), high-load eccentric training (HLET) and low-load eccentric training (LLET). The strength, muscle structure and motor performance outcomes were evaluated at baseline, after 3 and 6 weeks of training. Results for eccentric peak torque in the first three weeks, HLET was superior to LLET, but similar to LLET-BFR. In the final three weeks, superiority was observed in relation to LLET-BFR; however, there was no difference in relation to HIET-BFR. For the outcomes isometric and concentric peak torque, muscle structure and motor performance, there were no differences between groups. Conclusion eccentric training led to strengthening of knee extensors and improved motor performance, but without altering the muscle structure. LLET-BFR promoted gains similar to HLET in the first three weeks of training.

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