Os efeitos respiratórios, musculares e metabólico de um protocolo de método Pilates: ensaio clínico randomizado

Abstract

The Pilates Method (PM) was created by Joseph Pilates with exercises inspired by various techniques such as boxing and yoga, and is considered as the control between body and mind. The aim of this study was to evaluate the respiratory, muscular and metabolic effects of a PM protocol in adult women. The study sample consisted of 62 healthy women aged between 18 and 44 years who were willing to participate in the study. The volunteers were randomized into two groups by the Random.org software program: the Pilates Group (PG) (n = 33), which performed 16 sessions of a PM protocol twice a week, and the Control Group (GC) (n = 29) who did not perform any physical activity. An evaluation was performed prior to the intervention and another after 16 sessions. The evaluated variables were peak expiratory flow (PEF), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), tidal volume (TV), respiratory rate (RR), minute volume (MV) and slow vital capacity (SVC). The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to analyze the data normality of the studied variables. Evaluations were also performed on abdominal neuromuscular resistance (ANR), flexibility of the posterior chain musculature and lactate dosage. The characteristics of the volunteers were analyzed using the independent t-test (age, weight, height and BMI) and the Mann-Whitney test (systolic and diastolic pressure). The chi-squared test was used to assess the equality of proportions for physical activity levels (sedentary and irregularly active B) between PG and CG. Intragroup data on respiratory variables were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test (PG: PEF, MIP, MEP, TV, RR and MV; GC: MIP, MEP) and by paired t-test (PG: SVC; GC: MIP, MEP; PEF, TV, RR, MV and SVC). The Wilcoxon test (PEF, MIP, MEP, TV, RR and MV) and the independent t-test (SVC) were used in the intergroup data. Intragroup data on flexibility, ANR and lactate variables were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney test. The intergroup flexibility and ANR data were evaluated using the paired t-test, and the Mann-Whitney test for the lactate variable. A significance level of 5% was adopted for all tests. The results demonstrated significant evidence on the beneficial respiratory effects of the PM of thePG protocol compared to CG, with increased PEF (p = 0.016), MIP (p <0.001) and a significant increase in TV (p = 0.031). We also highlight the muscle effects of the PM with a significant increase in ANR (p <0.001), flexibility (p <0.0001) and lactate increase when compared to AV1 and AV2 after intervention (p <0.018) when comparing the PG with the CG after the 16 sessions of the PM protocol among the volunteers. It was concluded that PM is effective for increasing peak

expiratory flow, inspiratory muscle strength, ANR, flexibility of posterior chain muscles and for increased lactate dosage.