Effects of Pilate Mat Exercises on Agility and Flexibility of Athletes - A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background-Athletes are always looking for ways to get better at what they do and get hurt less frequently. Movement efficiency and total physical capability are influenced by flexibility and agility, which are essential elements of athletic success. Pilates mat movements have a reputation for enhancing body awareness, flexibility, and core strength. Despite its growing popularity, the impact of incorporating Pilates into athletes' training routines, particularly concerning flexibility and agility, remains largely unexplored. Objective-The purpose of this study was to evaluate the agility and flexibility of athletes who included Pilates mat movements in their training regimen to a control group who continued with their regular training regimen. Methods-Two groups, Group A (experimental) and Group B (control), each with fifteen participants, were randomly selected from among the thirty participants. Group B adhered to their regular training program without making any alterations, Group A engaged in Pilates mat exercises three days per week for six weeks, following informed consent obtained from each participant prior to the intervention. Agility and flexibility were assessed using the 4 x 10-meter shuttle run test and the sit and reach test before and after a six-week intervention period. Results and Conclusion-Compared to Group B, Group A showed noticeably greater flexibility and agility after the intervention. With a standard deviation of improvement of 2.90, the experimental group (Group A) demonstrated an average improvement in the sit and reach test score from 21.5 to 27.7. Group B, the control group, saw very little improvement; mean scores varied greatly, going from 22.18 to 22.20. Group A's mean time in the 4 x 10-meter shuttle run test increased from 23.3 to 21, while Group B's mean time only marginally improved from 21.53 to 22.07. These results imply that adding Pilates mat exercises to athletes' training regimens can increase their flexibility and agility, which may help them perform better on the field and avoid injuries. To confirm these results and investigate the long-term advantages of Pilates for athletes, more studies with bigger sample numbers and longer intervention times are necessary.