Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Low levels of hamstring flexibility may trigger certain acute and chronic pathologies and injuries. Poor flexibility is observed among teenagers and several authors have recommended the use of specific programs in this population to improve flexibility levels. The Pilates Method (PM) may be an appropriate intervention to achieve this purpose and has rarely been used with this population. Objective: Study was to assess changes in the flexibility of hamstrings after running a didactic PM unit for high-school students.METHODS: This research was developed through a quasi-experimental design. The sample consisted of 66 high-school students divided into experimental group (EG=39) and control group (CG=27). The intervention was carried out 2 times a week for six weeks. Each session lasted 55 minutes divided into three parts: warm-up, main part and cool down. Hamstring flexibility was assessed using the toe-touch test. Paired Student t-test and t-test for independent samples were applied. The size of the effect (d) was determined.RESULTS: The EG showed significant provident in hamstring flexibility (+3.54±3.9cm). The effect size was low (d>d>0,2<0,53), which means that a small proportion of participants improved their results. The control group did not have significant changes after the intervention. In the experimental group, both boys (+3.38± 3.7cm) and girls (+3.85 ± 4.2cm) showed significant improvements. The effect size was low for boys (d>d>0.2<0.53), which means that a small proportion of participants improved their results, and high for girls (d>1.15) which means that a large proportion of participants improved their results.CONCLUSION: This study showed that six-weeks of Pilates training in Physical Education classes has significantly improved the hamstrings flexibility among adolescents.
Highlights
Low levels of hamstring flexibility may trigger certain acute and chronic pathologies and injuries
The effect size was low (d>d>0,2
The effect size was low for boys (d>d>0.21.15) which means that a large proportion of participants improved their results
Summary
Lack of flexibility and muscular stiffness has been linked with increased risk of musculoskeletal injury[1,2]. The Pilates Method (PM) is a body conditioning technique, which offers improved control through stretching and strengthening of muscles while improving flexibility, reducing pain and preventing injuries. Even though the PM method may provide flexibility improvements in adolescents, this has not been shown effectively This generates several hypothesis of a six-weeks PM based exercise program with GE teenagers, which include: 1) a significantly improvement in the flexibility of the hamstring muscles; 2) significant differences in flexibility between an experimental and control group, and between boys and girls; and 3) the MP is. The primary aims of this study were to assess the effect of a Pilates Method based training program on the hamstring flexibility of school-aged children, between boys and girls, and to compare the efficacy of the PM to improve flexibility
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
