Continued Mat Pilates Exercise Improve Basal Physical Fitness, Core Stability and Back Pain in Healthy College Female

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 8 weeks of mat Pilates exercise on back pain, muscle mass, iso-kinetic muscle function, and core stability in healthy college female. METHODS: Twenty healthy college females (aged 21.7±2.5 years) were recruited for the study. The participants were divided into two groups: mat Pilates exercise group (MP, n=10) and non-Pilates control group (CON, n=10). The MP group participated in the mat Pilates exercise program for 60 minutes a day, 3 days per week for 8 weeks. Back pain and basal physical fitness were assessed before and after the experimental period. Left and right core stabilities at 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, and 180° were measured using Centaur (BFMC, Germany). Isokinetic muscle function (60°/s) of both the knee and trunk was also measured using the isokinetic dynamometer Cybex. RESULTS: After mat Pilates exercise for 8 weeks, there was a significant interaction between the MP and CON groups in back pain during daily activity and lower back stiffness (p