title: Comparison of the functionality of pelvic floor muscles in women who practice the Pilates method and sedentary women: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Pilates method is a form of physical exercise that improves the control of the core muscles, improving the conditioning of all the muscle groups that comprise the core, including the pelvic floor muscles (PFM). Thus, this study had the goal of verifying the existence of differences in the functioning of the PFM in women who practice the Pilates method and sedentary women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an observational, cross-sectional pilot study. A sample size calculation was performed using preliminary data and it determined that the sample should have at least 24 individuals in each group. The participants were 60 women aged 20 to 40 years; 30 women practiced the Pilates method (PMG) and 30 were sedentary (SG). An anamnesis file was used to collect personal data and assess the knowledge and perception of the PFM. The Perina perineometer and vaginal palpation were used to determine the functionality of the PFM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between the PMG and the SG in any of the variables analyzed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that the functionality of the PFM in younger women who practice the Pilates method is not different from that of sedentary women.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul-Brazil, Rua Franklin, 200/408 Itú Sabará, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. lyaferla@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Lia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferla
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul-Brazil, Rua Franklin, 200/408 Itú Sabará, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Laureano
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul-Brazil, Rua Franklin, 200/408 Itú Sabará, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Darki
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul-Brazil, Rua Franklin, 200/408 Itú Sabará, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vieira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D057185:Sedentary Behavior
keywords: Pelvic floor muscles; Perineometer; Pilates