Prevention and Rehabilitation
The effects of pilates on posture and physical fitness parameters in 5–6 years old children: A non-randomized controlled study

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2022.03.009Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Pilates exercise method is suitable and reliable method for children.

  • Clinical pilates method can be an entertraining alternative with a contribution to physical fitness for children.

  • Clinical pilates method improves posture in preschool children.

Abstract

Background

Inactivity is a public health problem. Physical activity is beneficial at any age, but is even more critical in childhood for healthy development and growth.

Objectives

The purpose of this non-randomized controlled study was to investigate the effects of Pilates on posture and physical fitness parameters in 5–6 years old healthy children.

Methods

Four preschool classes were divided into two groups. Five-six years old 66 preschool children were assigned to the Pilates (n = 31) and control (n = 35) groups. The Pilates group received a Pilates program twice a week for 10 weeks. The control group continued their daily routines. Postural assessment was evaluated using the New York Posture Rating Chart test and physical fitness was evaluated with the Eurofit test battery. Children were blinded to assignment. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparisons between groups, and the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test was used for within-group comparisons.

Results

In this study, within-group comparisons showed statistically significant improvements in the New York Posture Rating chart test (p < 0.001), Flamingo Balance, Sit and Reach, Standing Broad Jump, 30-Second Sit-Up, Bent Arm Hang, and 20-Meter Shuttle Run test scores (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Pilates has positive effects on physical fitness parameters and postural evaluation in preschool children. This study suggests that Pilates can be an entertaining alternative physical activity in children aged 5–6 years.

Clinicaltrials.number

NCT05210426.

Introduction

Physical activity plays a crucial role in children's health. The relationship between physical activity and health in children/adolescents has been studied since 1950s (Pate et al., 2019). Physical activity has positive effects on children and adolescents in various aspects, such as preventing obesity, increasing the quality of life, and improving physical and mental health (Andermo et al., 2020; Sánchez-Miguel et al., 2020; Lauda'nska-Krzemínska et al., 2020). Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America aims for all children to lead active and healthy lives by 2029 via the benefits of physical activity (SHAPE 2015). Therefore, innovative ways to increase and promote physical activity are needed for the benefit of children's health (Han et al., 2018).

An adaptive physical activity program designed for 3–6 years old children in the form of play has a crucial role in developing perceptual and basic nonverbal communication skills (Jidovtseff et al., 2014). Additionally, regular physical activity habits gained in the preschool period has a prerequisite effect for a healthy beginning in adulthood (Stojiljkovic and Pirsl 2016; Madić et al., 2018). Offering physical activities in preschools provides tremendous development in terms of improving the physical fitness of children (Blagojević et al., 2017; Lima et al., 2017). In addition, Kolarova et al. (2019) emphasized the need for preventive measures such as incorporating corrective exercises into sports activities and physical ed curriculum due to the high prevalence of postural disorders (Kolarova et al., 2019). However, due to the difficulty of working with 5–6 years old children, there is limited research in this age group (Goldfield et al., 2012; Adamo et al., 2016).

Naturally children participate in activities they like. The effects of physical activities such as dance, gymnastics, organized activities and kinesiological activities have been shown to have positive effects on postural alterations and performance in preschool children (Bala et al., 2010; Krneta et al., 2015; Zarić et al., 2018). Filanowski et al. (2020), stated that physical activities with which children have fun improve their physical activity levels more (Filanowski et al., 2020). Another form of physical activity is the practice of Pilates. Pilates can be one fun alternative physical activity that can improve aerobic fitness, muscle fitness, and body composition as well as postural alterations. The positive effects of Pilates have been proven in healthy adults (Casonatto & Mayume Yamacita 2020), older adults (Roller et al., 2018) and people with musculoskeletal disorders (Lynne et al. 2019). It has been reported that it increases body flexibility, abdominal and body muscle strength and endurance (Bullo et al., 2015). Pilates activates deep abdominal muscles in healthy individuals (Panhan et al., 2020) and increases the stabilization of the scapula (Otoni Dos Santos et al., 2021). Pilates is suitable for all ages, all body types, and all fitness abilities due to the modifiable nature of the movements. Therefore it is stated that it is a very suitable and reliable method for children (Finatto et al., 2018).

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study examining the effect of Pilates on physical fitness levels and postures in healthy preschool children. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Pilates on posture and physical fitness parameters of 5–6 years old children.

The research questions are:

  • (1)

    What impact does the Pilates intervention have on preschool children's Posture?

  • (2)

    What impact does the Pilates intervention have on preschool children's physical fitness parameters?

Section snippets

Method

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki Principles. Institutional ethical approval was obtained from Pamukkale University Non-Interventional Ethics Committee (number: 10/07/2018, No:14). The official permissions required to perform the study were obtained from the school directorate. Written informed consent was obtained from the parents of the participants. The study was carried out entirely on a voluntary basis, and students were not encouraged.

Results

The groups were homogeneous at the beginning of the study in terms of age and sex. There were no statistically significant differences between the PG and CG in terms of height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) at baseline assessments (p > 0.05) (Table 2).

In addition, while the Flamingo Balance, Sit-and-Reach and Bent Arm Hang test scores of the Eurofit test battery were not homogeneous but other parameters test scores of the Eurofit test battery and NYPR scores were homogeneous before the

Discussion

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of APPI Pilates method on posture and physical fitness parameters in children aged 5–6 years. This study shows a significant improvement in posture and physical fitness parameter scores after a 10-week Pilates intervention in preschool children in comparison with the control group.

In the present study, after Pilates, a positive improvement was observed in the forward rounded shoulder parameter. Since Pilates creates an increase in muscle

Conclusion

As a result of our study, we suggest that clinical Pilates can be an entertaining alternative with a contribution to postural development and physical fitness improvement. Teachers indicted their desire for Pilates to be included in the curriculum. Pilates can take place as a school subject throughout the education period in the preschool period with the advantage of being fun and free from monotony.

Funding

This study was a summary of the PhD thesis of the first author and this study was funded by Pamukkale University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (grant number 2018SABE031).

Clinical relevance

With this study, pre-school children will be able to love physical activity with game-based physical activities such as pilates.

With pilates practiced at school, preschool children will have the opportunity to engage in physical activity in groups.

Informed consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the mothers of the children who participated in this study.

Financial disclosure

This study, was supported by PAU Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit Through Project Number 2018SABE031.

Ethical considerations

Ethics approval of our study was obtained from Pamukkale University Non-Interventional Ethics Committee. (Date:10/07/2018, No:14)

Data availability statement

The data that support the findngs of this study are available from the corrosponding author upon reasonable request.

English language editing

This manuscript has been edited by an expert in terms of grammar and clarity.

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Nazan Ozturk: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Data curation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. Fatma Unver: Visualization, Investigation, Supervision, Software, Validation, Writing – review & editing.

Declaration of competing interest

No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully appreciate the efforts of the children who participated in the study, and their guardians and teachers.

Nazan Ozturk is a PhD candidate at the Health Services Vocational School, University of Aydın Adnan Menderes. Her research interests include effects of exercise in children, pregnant women and individuals with autism. At the time this article was written Nazan Ozturk was a student at Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Department, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.

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  • Nazan Ozturk is a PhD candidate at the Health Services Vocational School, University of Aydın Adnan Menderes. Her research interests include effects of exercise in children, pregnant women and individuals with autism. At the time this article was written Nazan Ozturk was a student at Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Department, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.

    Fatma Unver is a professor of education in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pamukkale. Her research focuses on athlete health and orthopedic rehabilitation.

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