Pilates and Aerobic Training on Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Flexibility, Strength, and Muscular Power in Young Adults

Universidade Estadual do Norte do Parana

Status: Completed

Conditions: Improvement of Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Flexibility, Strength and Muscle Power in Healthy Participants

Treatments: Other: Pilates Exercise; Other: Aerobic exercises; Other: Pilates exercises plus aerobic exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07107113

GPASD_002_2025

Details and patient eligibility

About

Pilates exercises have been shown to be effective for a range of outcomes; however, it is unclear whether they can effectively contribute to improving cardiorespiratory fitness, especially when compared with aerobic training, which is known to be effective for this purpose. Furthermore, the differences between these modalities for outcomes such as flexibility, strength, and muscular power require further investigation. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of Pilates compared to aerobic training, as well as the combination of these activities, on cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility, strength, and muscular power in young adults. Eighty women aged 18 to 40 will be randomized to four groups: Pilates (n = 20), aerobic (n = 20), Pilates plus aerobic (n = 20), and control (n = 20). Cardiorespiratory fitness will be assessed directly to estimate V̇O2max. Trunk flexibility in flexion and extension will be measured with a fleximeter (°). Lower-limb, upper-limb, and trunk muscle strength will be assessed by isokinetic dynamometry (N.m), while lower-limb muscle power (W) will be assessed by countermovement jumping on a force platform. Interventions will be conducted for 12 weeks, three times a week, with a 60-minute session duration. Analyses will be conducted by intention-to-treat and per-protocol.

Enrollment: 80 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• female;
• age between 18 and 40 years; - not having exercised in the last 6 months;
• agreeing not to perform any other type of exercise during the study period;
• being fit to exercise according to the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) criteria;
• having no musculoskeletal or neurological disorders that could affect exercise performance;
• having no known cardiovascular or respiratory diseases;
• having no cognitive impairment that could lead to the inability to follow simple commands;
• not being a smoker;
• not being pregnant;
• not being on any specific diets.

Exclusion criteria

• refusing to sign the informed consent form;
• being unable to complete the pre-intervention assessment procedures.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

80 participants in 4 patient groups

Pilates

Experimental group

Description:

A total of 13 exercises were selected for the Pilates group, including two stretching exercises and 11 strengthening exercises for the main muscle groups. Mat exercises and equipment exercises (Ladder Barrel, Cadillac, Step Chair, Reformer, Springboard, and Small Barrel) will be used. Two protocols will be adopted for progression (protocol 1: weeks 1-6; protocol 2: weeks 7-12). Two sets of 10 repetitions will be performed, with a 30-second rest between sets and exercises. The two-by-two rule will be used to increase the load. In this case, the load will increase when the participant performs ≥ 2 repetitions above their target of 10 repetitions in the last set, in two consecutive training sessions. The interventions will last 12 weeks, three times a week, for 60 minutes.

Treatment:

Other: Pilates Exercise

Aerobic

Experimental group

Description:

The aerobic group will perform walking/running exercises on a treadmill, using the extensive interval training method. To define the intensity and periodization of the training, the running speed associated with V̇O2max (vV̇O2max), second ventilatory threshold (vLV2), and average speed between vV̇O2max and vLV2 (v50%Δ) will be used as a reference. These parameters will be obtained from a maximal exercise test on a treadmill, performed before the start of the interventions. Two protocols will be adopted, with adjustments in density (work-to-recovery ratio) every two weeks. The interventions will last 12 weeks, three times a week, for 60 minutes.

Treatment:

Other: Aerobic exercises

Pilates plus aerobic

Experimental group

Description:

They will perform the same exercises as the Pilates group, however, with 1 set of 10 repetitions, with a 30-second rest between sets and exercises, totaling 30 minutes of intervention per session. In the second half of the intervention period, aerobic exercises will be performed, identical to those of the aerobic group, but for 30 minutes. The interventions will last 12 weeks, three times a week, for 60 minutes.

Treatment:

Other: Pilates exercises plus aerobic exercise

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

This group will be instructed to maintain their usual routine.