The effect of pilates training on improving the physical quality of college girls

Abstract

Objective To study the effects of pilates core strength training on the body shape, cardiopulmonary function, balance ability and flexibility of college girls. Methods According to the purpose of the experiment, 40 female college students were divided into regular physical education course group and pilates training course group.The training intensity was pilates training with a duration of from 60 to 80 minutes, twice a week for 16 weeks.Before and after the training, the indicators of morphology, cardiopulmonary function, balance ability and flexibility were measured. Results The results of covariance analysis showed that pilates training could significantly affect the cardiopulmonary function, flexibility and balance ability of college girls.Through the comparison and analysis of the test indicators before and after, there was a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test data in the PM group. Among them, college girls lost 1.09% of their body weight(t=2.709, P=0.014), thigh circumference decreased significantly by 0.34%(t=2.554, P=0.019), waist circumference decreased significantly by 0.99%(t=4.223, P=0.000), the thickness of the lumbar pleat decreased significantly by 4.25%(t=4.908, P=0.000), and the abdominal pleat decreased significantly by 1.54%(t=5.329, P=0.000). In the PM group, cardiopulmonary function was significantly improved, in which VC increased by 27.05%(t=-26.544, P=0.000), VO2max increased by 4.89%(t=-10.141, P=0.000), SV increased by 4.23%(t=-15.143, P=0.000), and HR decreased by 3.06%(t=4.886, P=0.000). The PM group also showed significant changes in flexibility, with an increase of 47.04% in sit-ups and stretches(t=-30.368, P=0.000), sit-ups by 45.70%(t=-17.512, P=0.000), Romberg by 91.41%(t=-11.451, P=0.000) and FRT by 6.55%(t=-6.128, P=0.000). Conclusions Pilates exercises can effectively improve the cardiopulmonary function, balance ability and body flexibility of college girls. Key words: Pilates; College women; Physiological indexes