title: Effect of the Pilates method on physical conditioning of healthy subjects: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical conditioning consists of a variety of health-related attributes and Pilates exercises are described as a form of this conditioning. The objective of this systematic review was to determine the effect of the Pilates method on health and ability outcome of the physical conditioning of healthy individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The search was performed in the following databases: Medline, Cinahl, Embase, Lilacs, Scielo, Web of Science, PEDro, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register Library, Scopus, Science Direct and Google Scholar. (1950-2014). Included studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the effects of the Pilates method on healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Pilates improved abdominal muscular endurance when compared with no exercises (mean difference [MD]=9.53%; 95% CI: 2.41, 16.43; P=0.009), however, there was no difference in flexibility (MD=4.97; 95% CI: -0.53, 10.47; P=0.08). Some positive effects (up to 6 months) of the Pilates practice were found in some RCTs' results as follows: Improvement of dynamic balance, quality of life and back muscle flexibility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate the Pilates exercises performed on the mat or apparatus 2 to 3 times a week, for 5 to 12 weeks, improves abdominal muscular endurance (on average, 10 more abdominals curls in 1-minute sit-up test) for both genders, when compared to no exercises.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomechanics and Clinical Epidemiology, PAIFIT Research Group, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil - jeffcar@uel.br.
authors.forename: Renata R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Josilainne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Ligia M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Obara
authors.forename: Maria S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.forename: Mariana F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Bruno F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Mazuquin
authors.forename: Diego G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Christofaro
authors.forename: Romulo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Maura D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Iversen
authors.forename: Jefferson R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cardoso
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D064131:Back Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000379:methods*; D004856:Postural Balance; D011788:Quality of Life