The effects of a reformer Pilates program on body composition and morphological characteristics in active women after a detraining period

ABSTRACT

The aim of this quasi-experimental pilot study was to explore the effects of a reformer Pilates program on the anthropometry, body composition, and somatotype of active adult women after a short non-exercise period. Twenty-eight women (mean age: 40.21 ± standard deviation of 8.12 years old) with one to three years of reformer Pilates experience participated in the study. The women participated in a reformer Pilates program for 16 weeks (one hour, twice per week) after 4 weeks of detraining (summer holidays) in 2012. The International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry full profile was assessed before and after the intervention program. Significant decreases (p ≤ 0.05) from pre- to post-program were observed for triceps, iliac crest, supraspinale, abdominal, front thigh and medial calf skinfold thicknesses, six and eight skinfold thickness sums, forearm and ankle girths, waist/hip ratio, endomorphy, and fat mass. Significant increases (p ≤ .05) were observed for corrected arm, corrected calf girths, and muscle mass. Generally, women showed a mesomorphic endomorph (endomorphy predominant) and mesomorph–endomorph (endomorphy and mesomorphy predominant) in the pre- and posttests, respectively. In conclusion, the practice of reformer Pilates was associated with healthy changes in anthropometric parameters, body composition, and somatotype in Pilates-experienced women after 4 weeks of no physical exercise.

KEYWORDS:

• Body mass index
• physical activity
• Pilates method
• quality of life
• weight
• women

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the women who participated in this study. The authors are also grateful to José J. Gallardo, physiotherapist at the “Clínica de Fisioterapia el Carmen” and the head instructor of the Pilates program, all of the instructors and administrators of the “Movement Pilates y salud” center for their help during this intervention program, and to Alfredo Sancho Caravaca for providing comments on this article.