Kieffer, S.

Miller, D.

Mitcheltree, T.

Smith, M.

English

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	  Six-week Pilates Program Improved Postural Stability, Balance, and Isometric Back Strength in College-aged Athletes    Melinda B. Smith, Tyler Mitcheltree, H. Scott Kieffer, FACSM, Douglas K. Miller, Messiah College, Mechanicsburg, PA   Pilates training engages core musculature and utilizes controlled repetitions of various movements to improve muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, balance, and posture. Although a growing body of research identifies the benefits of Pilates training for middle-aged and older adults, little emphasis has been placed on evaluating athletic populations. PURPOSE: To determine the effects of a short-term Pilates training program on postural stability, balance and core isometric back strength in NCAA DIII and competitive club sport athletes. METHODS: The experimental group of 16 off-season college-aged female athletes participated in a supervised Pilates training program, which took place two times each week for six weeks. The 30-minute Pilates sessions consisted of body weight training that progressed to the incorporation of dumbbells. Pre- and post-test measurements were taken in three functional tests, which included Force Plate Tandem Balance (FPTB), Limits of Postural Stability (LPS), and Biering-Sorensen Back Extension (BSBE). A control group of 10 college students, who maintained their normal physical activities, but were not involved in the Pilates training program, completed pre- and post-testing for comparison. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the experimental and control groups at baseline testing. The control group did not show any significant changes between pre- and post-test measurements. The experimental group decreased path length in the FPTB assessment (39.8 inches vs. 36.5 inches, p<0.05). The experimental group also exhibited significant improvement in postural control score on the LPS assessment (37.1 vs. 47.4, p<.001). Finally, there was a significant increase in seconds held during the BSBE assessment among the experimental group (172.4 seconds vs. 187.7 seconds, p<.05). CONCLUSION: A six-week progressive Pilates program contributed to significant decreases in single-foot sway, increases in postural stability, and increases in isometric back strength in female college-aged athletes. 	  

Six-week Pilates Program Improved Postural Stability, Balance, and Isometric Back Strength in College-aged Athletes

https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3622&context=ijesab

Six-week Pilates Program Improved Postural Stability, Balance, and Isometric Back Strength in College-aged Athletes

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