Effect of Home-Based Tele-Pilates Intervention on Pregnant Women: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Pilates is effective for training the core muscles and stabilizing the hip joints, which provides relief from pelvic pain and low back pain during pregnancy. However, there are no specific guidelines on appropriate physical exercises for pregnant women due to the current pandemic. We aimed to apply the exercise standard proposed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to home-based tele-Pilates exercise (HTPE), to determine its effect on the physical and mental health of pregnant women. We randomly divided the subjects into the following two groups who completed 8 weeks of HTPE (50 min/day, 2 days/week): (a) Pilates exercise (PE, n = 7) and (B) non-Pilates exercise (CON, n = 7). HTPE was performed by adjusting the program every 3 weeks, based on pain and physical fitness levels. We measured body composition, muscles of the hip joint, pelvic tilt, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), before and after HTPE. Following HTPE, while the percentage of body fat and body mass index had significantly decreased, the body fat mass did not change in the PE group (p < 0.05). The PE group showed an increase in strength of the left and right hip flexion and hip abduction, compared to the CON group (p < 0.01). The ODI and PSQI were significantly decreased in the PE group (p < 0.05). Therefore, the 8-week HTPE program is an effective exercise for pregnant woman that reduces body fat metabolism and strengthens muscles of the hip joint, thus alleviating pregnancy-induced low back pain and insomnia.

Effects of Two Physical Activity Interventions on Sleep and Sedentary Time in Pregnant Women

“…In addition, a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs conducted among pregnant women revealed that sleep quality was improved among exercise group participants when determined by the PSQI [ 36 ]. Like our findings, an RCT of an 8-week supervised home tele-based Pilates program 50 min twice a week ( n = 7) and control ( n = 7) during pregnancy showed that PSQI global scores were significantly lower in the intervention compared to the control group [ 37 ]. In contrast to our findings, an RCT among Danish pregnant women with or at high risk of depression found no difference in the global PSQI score after 12 weeks of supervised group exercise (70 min twice a week) starting from GA 17–22 weeks [ 35 ].…”

The Effects of Exercise on Sleep During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…Yoga and Pilates may be particularly useful exercise types. Recent pilot studies in pregnant women have shown that a 7-week yoga intervention during the second trimester improved sleep disturbances,55 8 sessions of yoga over 2 weeks improved sleep quality,56 and 8 weeks of home-based Pilates improved sleep quality 57. More work is warranted to better understand the relationship between exercise frequency, intensity, type, and time with sleep in pregnancy, and studies utilizing objective measures of sleep and exercise, which provide more precise information about these parameters, are critically needed.…”

Construct of the Association between Sleep Quality and Perinatal Depression: A Literature Review

“…Thus, future investigations should compare sleep patterns in pregnancy, and after childbirth and perinatal depression. Further studies are also necessary to understand the efficiency of exercise programs specialized for postpartum women who may be vulnerable to depression, since exercises such as Pilates improve the quality of sleep in pregnant women [ 24 ]. Women undergoing treatment for insomnia during the third trimester of pregnancy reported less symptomatology of postpartum depression than those who did not receive treatment, thus suggesting a link between sleep quality during pregnancy and perinatal depression [ 25 ].…”