Abstract
PURPOSE: Body Composition is one of the indicators of the health problems. The role of physical activity on the effects on Body Composition has been investigated. However, studies regarding Pilates, a popular physical activity, are rare. The purpose is to analyze the effects of three months of the Pilates-based mat exercise program (PME) on Body Composition. METHODS: Sixty eight women, aged 25-55 yrs, were randomly assigned to either an exercise group (n=43, 41.0±7.2 yrs) to participate in a PME in a 12-week classes of 60 minutes, 2 times per week, or to a control group (n=25, 40.0±7,7). Dual-energy x-ray Absorptiometry (DXA), evaluated Fat Mass (g) (FM), the Lean Mass (g) (LM) and the Percentage Fat Mass (%) (PF) from upper and lower limbs, and Total Body Mass (g) were measured variables. All variables were measured at baseline and again after 12 weeks. Repeated measures of ANOVA, were run in SPSS version 15.0. RESULTS: Comparison revealed significant increases on LM: upper body left limb (63,8 g, p=0,001), upper body right limb (75,4g, p=0.002), lower body left limb (88,6 g, p=0,030), lower body right limb (116,3g, p=0,014) with significant decreases on FM: upper body right limb (-75,8 g, p=0,045) and on PF: upper body right limb (-2 %; p=0,008), lower body right limb (-0,9 %; p= 0,015) on the exercise group. Related to Total Body Mass, the exercise group did not show statistically significant differences. Control group did not showed significant differences between baseline and after 12 weeks in any variables. There were no statistically significant differences between exercise group and control group at baseline. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the exposure of women to PME during 12 weeks, for two 60-minutes sessions per week improve Body Composition, namely increase Lean Mass and decreases Fat Mass and the Percentage Fat Mass at upper and lower limbs level. The Pilates training maybe useful to Body Composition control.
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