Abstract
Objective
To critically analyze the benefits of Pilates on health outcomes in women.
Data Sources
CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, Science Direct, SPORTDiscus, Physiotherapy Evidence Database
(PEDro), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science.
Study Selection
Databases were searched using the terms Pilates and Pilates Method. Published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included if they comprised female
participants with a health condition and a health outcome was measured, Pilates needed
to be administered, and the article was published in English in a peer-reviewed journal
from 1980 to July 2014.
Data Extraction
Two authors independently applied the inclusion criteria to potential studies. Methodological
quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. A best-evidence grading system was used
to determine the strength of the evidence.
Data Synthesis
Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. PEDro scale values ranged from 3 to 7
(mean, 4.5; median, 4.0), indicating a relatively low quality overall. In this sample,
Pilates for breast cancer was most often trialed (n=2). The most frequent health outcomes
investigated were pain (n=4), quality of life (n=4), and lower extremity endurance
(n=2), with mixed results. Emerging evidence was found for reducing pain and improving
quality of life and lower extremity endurance.
Conclusions
There is a paucity of evidence on Pilates for improving women's health during pregnancy
or for conditions including breast cancer, obesity, or low back pain. Further high-quality
RCTs are warranted to determine the effectiveness of Pilates for improving women's
health outcomes.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
BES (best-evidence synthesis), PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database), QOL (quality of life), RCT (randomized controlled trial), WHO (World Health Organization)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 22, 2015
Footnotes
Disclosures: none.
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
