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Eight weeks of Pilates exercise improved physical performance of overweight and obese women without significant changes in body composition and serum myokines

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks Pilates exercise on physical performance, body composition, and serum myokines level of overweight and obese women.

Methods

Twenty six middle-age, sedentary overweight and obese women (age; 43.6 ± 1.8 years old, body mass index; 28.3 ± 1.14 kg/m2) volunteered to participate in the study and randomized to either the experimental (n = 13) or control group (n = 13). The experimental group participated in Pilates exercise program (8 weeks/3 days per week). Anthropometric indices of body composition; muscular strength and endurance; static and dynamic balance; flexibility; serum levels of Follistatin, Decorin and Myostatin were assessed at baseline and at the end of the study.

Results

Pilates exercise led to a significant increase in upper body (MD 3.9 kg [CI 95%, 1.54–6.3], p < 0.001) and lower body strength (MD 31.6 kg [CI 95%, − 16.9–46.3], p = 0.003) comparing to the control group.

Moreover, Pilates exercise resulted in significant improvement in upper body (MD 3.7 n [CI 95%, 1–6.3], p = 0.01) and core endurance (MD 3.1 n [CI 95%, 1.2–5.05], p = 0.03) in comparison with the control group. Additionally, Pilates exercise led to a significant improvement in static balance (MD 1.4 s [CI 95%, 0.55–2.15], p = 0.002) and dynamic balance (MD − 4.16 s [CI 95%, − 6.9 to − 1.3], p = 0.005) comparing to the control group. However, there was no significant difference between groups in flexibility, body composition and serum levels of Decorin, Follistatin, and Myostatin (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Eight weeks of Pilates exercise can improve physical performance of sedentary overweight and obese women. However, it seems that higher intensities or frequencies/volumes of exercise may be needed to induce significant changes in myokine levels and body composition in this population.

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Abbreviations

T2DM:

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

CVD:

Cardiovascular disease

BMI:

Body mass index

WC:

Waist circumference

LBM:

Lean body mass

BF%:

Body fat percentage

1RM:

One repetition maximum

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate all subjects for participating in this study and thank Dr. Mansouri and Mr. Parvin for their technical help in nutritional assessments and biochemical analysis.

Funding

This study was supported in part by Shahed University.

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Correspondence to Ali Samadi.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shahed University (IR.SHAHED.REC.1398.017) and conducted according to the principles of Declaration of Helsinki.

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Participants were informed about the purpose and test procedures and gave their written informed consent.

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Nasiri, E., Ganji Harsini, A., Arabi, F. et al. Eight weeks of Pilates exercise improved physical performance of overweight and obese women without significant changes in body composition and serum myokines. Sport Sci Health 18, 725–733 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-021-00846-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-021-00846-4

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