The effects of reformer pilates exercises on flexibility and leg strength on taekwondo athletes

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of reformer pilates exercises on flexibility and leg strength development on teakwondo players. 30 volunteer teakwondo athletes between the ages of 11-17, who will participate in the Turkish championship in the junior and stars category from Kastamonu province, participated in the study. Key words: Reformer, Flexibility, Leg strength, Vertical jump Participants were randomly divided into two groups as experimental and control groups. Both groups were provided with regular participation in teakwondo trainings, and the experimental group was made to do reformer pilates exercises for 30 minutes two days a week for 8 weeks in addition to their own training. Height, body weight, sit-and-reach test, spaghate flexibility test, eagle flexibility test, inclometer test, back and leg dynometer test, standing long jump test, vertical jump test measurements were applied to the participants. Two-way analysis of variance was used in the measurements. The value of p<0.05 was used for the significance level of the data obtained. When we compared the pre-measurement, intermediate measurement and post-measurement values between the research groups, the sit-access test, the inclometer test and the vertical jump tests, there was no significant difference between the experimental and control groups. However, it was determined that there was improvement in both groups separately. P>0.05 When the pre-measurement, intermediate and post-measurement values were compared between the research groups, a significant difference was found when the group differences of the experimental and control groups were examined in the spaghat test, eagle test, dynometer test and standing long jump test. In conclusion, this study shows that Pilates exercises are effective in improving important physical characteristics of teakwondo players, such as flexibility and strength.