Efeito agudo do método pilates sobre a flexibilidade

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the acute effect of Pilates training on flexibility of apparently healthy young adults. This pre-experimental study consisted of one training session of Pilates with equipment. Eleven subjects, with mean age of 26,4 years old, participated in this study (standard deviation: 4.4 years old). Flexibility was measured by the sit-and-reach and the Thomas tests. Data was described by mean and standard deviation. Comparisons between flexibility levels pre and post training were analyzed by pared T-test (p<0.05). The majority of individuals (six) had negative result in the Thomas test, whereas five had positive result that indicated ilium-psoas muscle shrinking. Mean comparisons between pretest (26.6 cm; SD: 10.8 cm) and post-test (32.6 cm; SD: 9.0 cm), measured immediately post the last exercise be completed, shown a significant increase of the 22,5% on flexibility (p<0.05). Besides, the comparison between post-test with the measurement taken 30 minutes after completed the exercise session (31.8 cm; SD 9.4 cm) shown a reduction of only 2.5%, which was non-significant (p>0.05). These results indicate a positive acute effect of Pilates method with equipment on flexibility of the body posterior region in apparently healthy young adults and that this effect is not reverted after 30 minutes the exercise session be completed.