Pilates Method Improves Cardiorespiratory Fitness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Cardiorespiratory fitness has been postulated as an independent predictor of several chronic diseases. We aimed to estimate the effect of Pilates on improving cardiorespiratory fitness and to explore whether this effect could be modified by a participant’s health condition or by baseline VO2 max levels. We searched databases from inception to September 2019. Data were pooled using a random effects model. The Cochrane risk of bias (RoB 2.0) tool and the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies were performed. The primary outcome was cardiorespiratory fitness measured by VO2 max. The search identified 527 potential studies of which 10 studies were included in the systematic review and 9 in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed that Pilates increased VO2 max, with an effect size (ES) = 0.57 (95% CI: 0.15–1; I2 = 63.5%, p = 0.018) for the Pilates group vs. the control and ES = 0.51 (95% CI: 0.26–0.76; I2 = 67%, p = 0.002) for Pilates pre-post effect. The estimates of the pooled ES were similar in both sensitivity and subgroup analyses; however, random-effects meta-regressions based on baseline VO2 max were significant. Pilates improves cardiorespiratory fitness regardless of the population’s health status. Therefore, it may be an efficacious alternative for both the healthy population and patients suffering from specific disorders to achieve evidenced-based results from cardiorespiratory and neuromotor exercises.

The Efficacy of Pilates on Urinary Incontinence in Korean Women: A Metabolomics Approach

“…Studies of exercise science reported that short-term exercise induces the accumulation of plasma glutamine [ 37 , 38 ], whereas long-term physical activities accompanying strenuous physiological responses such as long distance running tends to reduce the glutamine concentration in blood [ 39 , 40 , 41 ], and in case by <500 μmol/L [ 37 ]. Scientific evidence for VO 2 max of Pilates has still remained inconclusive [ 42 , 43 , 44 ], however, Pilates may not be included in the category of exhaustive activities in terms of scientific common sense. Hence, provided that exercise intensity of Pilates meets the moderate and short-term level, significant increase of L-glutamine ( m / z : 147.07 [M + H] + ) in UIP is demonstrated by the view of metabolomics; Pilate is the activity that drives D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism as shown in pathway analysis ( p = 0.0004, PI = 1.0) ( Table 2 and Figure 3 ).…”

Pilates for Overweight or Obesity: A Meta-Analysis

“…One such alternative modality of exercise that is widely used for health enhancement and adjuvant treatment in various diseases is Pilates (Sharma et al, 2018 ; Eliks et al, 2019 ; Fernández-Rodríguez et al, 2019 ). Pilates exercise, which was originated in the 1920s, mainly involved isometric contractions of the core muscles (Chen Z. et al, 2020 ).…”

‘It’s like Going to the Regular Class but without Being there’: A Qualitative Analysis of Older people’s Experiences of Exercise in the Home during Covid-19 Lockdown in England

“…This study focuses on Pilates, a series of low impact exercises that strengthen core muscles to improve posture, mobility, balance and breathing (Joyce and Kotler 2017 ). Developed by Joseph and Clare Pilates in the 1920s, Pilates been associated with increased cardiorespiratory fitness (Fernández-Rodríguez et al 2019 ) and reduction in fall risks and improvements in functional mobility in older people (Roller et al 2018 ).…”