title: The Pilates breathing technique increases the electromyographic amplitude level of the deep abdominal muscles in untrained people.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the behaviour of the upper rectus abdominis, lower rectus abdominis and transverse abdominis/internal oblique (TrA/IO) by using surface electromyography during trunk flexion with and without the Pilates breathing technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen female subjects (without experience of the Pilates method) were recruited. The muscles were evaluated while trunk flexion was performed by using the Pilates breathing technique (POW) and Step Barrel device, followed by another contraction without the technique (NORM). Normality was accepted, and the paired t-test was used to determine data differences (p < 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were noted in the amplitude level of activation between TrA/IO-POW and TrA/IO-NORM. The activation amplitude level of TrA/IO-POW significantly increased compared with all the other muscles under the NORM condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The breathing technique of the Pilates method associated with trunk flexion increases TrA/IO electrical activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Department of Graduate in Health Education, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys, Campus JK, Diamantina, MG, MGT 367 Road, Km 583, nº 5000, Alto da Jacuba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: alexwbarbosa@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Alexandre Wesley Carvalho
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila Antunes
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Guedes
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Douglas Novaes
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Bonifácio
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angélica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Fátima Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fábio Luiz Mendonça
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Department of Graduate in Health Education, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Michelle Cristina Sales
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Almeida Barbosa
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000502:physiology; D012119:Respiration; D060726:Torso / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Breathing; Electromyography; Exercise; Pilates