Effect of 8 weeks un-tact pilates home training on body composition, abdominal obesity, pelvic tilt and strength, back pain in overweight women after childbirth

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study aims to observe the effects of at home Pilates exercise, using a real-time web program in postpartum women where measurements of body composition, abdominal obesity, pelvic tilt, back pain and Oswestry Disability Index will be taken. METHODS: Subjects included postpartum women under the age of 45 that were registered at the C Cultural Women’s Center in Bun-dang, Gyeonggi-do. All subjects were within 1 year of childbirth, had no medical opinion and were not receiving medication. A total of 16 people were enrolled in this experiment, which consisted of a Pilates Exercise group (EX, n=8) and a control group (CON, n=8). Measurements of body composition, abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness and circumference, pelvic tilt, pelvic strength, and back pain index were all assessed prior to being exposed to experimental measures. After 8 weeks of un-tact home Pilates exercise, a follow-up examination was conducted to observe the group-specific changes. RESULTS: The group that participated in the un-tact home Pilates exercise showed a decrease in body fat, BMI, and visceral fat postpar-tum. Abdominal obesity tests showed a significant reduction in subcutaneous fat thickness, abdominal and hip circumference. The pelvic tilt test showed a reduction in the pelvic slope of the EX-group. Finally, the Oswestry Disabililty Index test showed the total score of the EX-group had decreased, confirming that Pilates exercise in this study was effective for back pain. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, un-tact home Pilates exercise using a real time web program is an effective intervention that can be used to pre-vent postpartum obesity by reducing abdominal and total body adiposity postpartum, assisting pelvic function, and improving muscle strength while also reducing back pain.