title: Intra-abdominal pressure during Pilates: unlikely to cause pelvic floor harm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to describe the intra-abdominal pressures (IAP) generated during Pilates Mat and Reformer activities, and determine whether these activities generate IAP above a sit-to-stand threshold.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty healthy women with no symptomatic vaginal bulge, median age 43 (range 22-59 years), completed Pilates Mat and Reformer exercise routines each consisting of 11 exercises. IAP was collected by an intra-vaginal pressure transducer, transmitted wirelessly to a base station, and analyzed for maximal and area under the curve (AUC) IAP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences in the mean maximal IAP between sit-to-stand and any of the Mat or Reformer exercises in the study population. Six to twenty-five percent of participants exceeded their individual mean maximal IAP sit-to-stand thresholds for 10 of the 22 exercises. When measuring AUC from 0 cm H2O, half the exercises exceeded the mean AUC of sit-to-stand, but only Pilates Reformer and Mat roll-ups exceeded the mean AUC of sit-to-stand when calculated from a threshold of 40 cm H2O (consistent with, for example, walking).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results support recommending this series of introductory Pilates exercises, including five Mat exercises and six Reformer exercises to women desiring a low IAP exercise routine. More research is needed to determine the long-term effects of Pilates exercise on post-surgical exercise rehabilitation and pelvic floor health.
authors: Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, 36 S. Wasatch Drive, Room 4202, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
authors: Tanner J
authors: TJ
authors: Coleman
authors: Ingrid E
authors: IE
authors: Nygaard
authors: Dannielle N
authors: DN
authors: Holder
authors: Marlene J
authors: MJ
authors: Egger
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Hitchcock
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory; D059952:Pelvic Floor Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011312:Pressure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014160:Transducers, Pressure; D014621:Vagina; D059015:Wireless Technology; D055815:Young Adult