The effects of 8 weeks pilates exercises on some cardiovascular risk factors of middle aged sedentary women

The purpose of this study was to asses the effect of 8 weeks regular pilates mat-work exercises program on some cardiovasculer risk factors of middle aged sedentary womenThe total of 20 healthy middle aged sedentary women were voluntarily participated in to this study. Subjects were divided in to two groups as experiment (n:10) and control (n:10). The avarage age of subjects in control group and experiment group were 41,2+8,67 and 38,5+3,89 years respectively. Subjects in exercise group performed three exercise sessions per week and each session lasted 45 minutes during 8 weeks by the same trainer. The intensity of exercise was %40-60 determined by Carvonen Method. All subjects (exercise and control group), height, weight, resting heart rate, blood pressure, waist-hip ratio, body mass index, body fat percentage and blood lipids were measured by using standardized field and laboratory tests before and after exercise programAs results of this study ; altough in body weight, body mass index and body fat percentage scores were significant increase, significant decrease was observed in HDL-K in control (p<0,05). In exercise group, there were significant decrease at body fat percentage, Total-K and LDL-K variablesAs conclusion it could be said that; regular pilates mat-work activities in long period has positive effects to reduce cardiavascular risk factors of middle aged sedentary femalesKey words; pilates, sedentary women, cardiovascular risk factors.