title: The effects of Pilates breathing trainings on trunk muscle activation in healthy female subjects: a prospective study.
abstract: [Purpose] To investigate the effects of Pilates breathing on trunk muscle activation. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-eight healthy female adults were selected for this study. Participants' trunk muscle activations were measured while they performed curl-ups, chest-head lifts, and lifting tasks. Pilates breathing trainings were performed for 60 minutes per each session, 3 times per week for 2 weeks. Post-training muscle activations were measured by the same methods used for the pre-training muscle activations. [Results] All trunk muscles measured in this study had increased activities after Pilates breathing trainings. All activities of the transversus abdominis/internal abdominal oblique, and multifidus significantly increased. [Conclusion] Pilates breathing increased activities of the trunk stabilizer muscles. Activation of the trunk muscle indicates that practicing Pilates breathing while performing lifting tasks will reduce the risk of trunk injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Cheongju University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Cheongju University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Joon-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Core muscle; Lifting task; Pilates breathing