Examination of the effect of pilates exercises on health-related physical fitness parameter in the middle aged women

In this study, a group of middle age women performed Pilates mat exercises for one hour 2 days a week, for a period of ten weeks. The aim is to examine the impact on physical fitness parameters before and after exercise of muscular strength and endurance, flexibility and body composition. 33 women volunteers participated in the study; 14 were controls with an average age of 50.42±10.81, and 19 were subjects with an average age of 48.94±4.64. The Pilates mat exercises program was conducted for one hour, two days a week for 10 weeks, and the study evaluated the physical and motor performances of all participants before and after exercise. Physical characteristics measured were height, body weight, subcutaneous fat thickness (Holtain calipers with 0.02 mm accuracy); and the Yuhazs formula was used for the calculation of percent body fat. The motor performance tests applied were for muscular strength (handgrip strength), muscular endurance (sit-up and push-up), flexibility (sit and reach), For the evaluation of data, paired t-test was used in the first test and final test comparisons of the group showing normal distribution, and Wilcoxon-marked series were used for comparison in the group which did not have at least one normal distribution (p<0.05). Two unpaired t-tests were used for the comparison of subjects with normal distribution and the control group. Mann Whitney U test was used to compare scores that did not show at least one normal distribution (p<0.05). As a result, at the end of 10 weeks of Pilates exercises, weight, body mass index, sitting height, triceps, suprailiac, subcapular, and abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness values were shown to be decreased (p<0.05) in the women in the experimental group; and there was a significant improvement in flexibility and muscle strength (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the control group (p>0.05). It was observed that Pilates exercises, performed twice a week for 10 weeks, led to a reduction in body fat and an increase in the physical fitness capacity of women.