title: The Pilates Method increases respiratory muscle strength and performance as well as abdominal muscle thickness.
abstract: The aim of this study was to verify the effects of the Pilates Method (PM) training program on the thickness of the abdominal wall muscles, respiratory muscle strength and performance, and lung function. This uncontrolled clinical trial involved 16 sedentary women who were assessed before and after eight weeks of PM training. The thickness of the transversus abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO) and external oblique (EO) muscles was assessed. The respiratory muscle strength was assessed by measuring the maximum inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) pressure. The lung function and respiratory muscle performance were assessed by spirometry. An increase was found in MIP (p = 0.001), MEP (p = 0.031), maximum voluntary ventilation (p = 0.020) and the TrA (p < 0.001), IO (p = 0.002) and EO (p < 0.001) thickness after the PM program. No alterations in lung function were found. These findings suggest that the PM program promotes abdominal wall muscle hypertrophy and an increase in respiratory muscle strength and performance, preventing weakness in abdominal muscles and dysfunction in ventilatory mechanics, which could favor the appearance of illnesses.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation and Inclusion, Centro Universitário Metodista IPA, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mateus Beltrame
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Giacomini
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antônio Marcos Vargas
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Laura Menezes
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitário Metodista, IPA and Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: marianemonteiro@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mariane Borba
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Monteiro
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D045853:Exhalation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001239:Inhalation / Q000502:physiology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Abdominal muscles; Pilates Method; Respiratory muscles; Women