Abstract
Engagement in regular physical activity is helpful in enhancing physical fitness, which greatly outweighs the potential risks involved. Pilates is a non-contact physical activity, as it involves no physical contact with other people. Pilates is considered a relatively safe physical activity.The purposeof the presentstudy was to explore the effect of the Polestar™ Pilates method of exercise on the body composition and cardiopulmonary fitness of adults. The design of the study was quasi-experimental. The experimental group comprised 53 participants (44 females, 9 males). The control group consisted of 35 participants (31 females, 4 males). Only the experimental group received Polestar™ Pilates exercise training, which was presented by a certified Pilates trainer. Both groups received a pre- and post-test of body composition and cardiopulmonary fitness. After 12 weeks of Pilates training, the cardiopulmonary fitness of the experimental group was significantly enhanced (p<0.05), but changes in body composition were not statistically significant. For future research, it is recommended that continuous tracking for 3 to 6 months at the end of the intervention period to follow up the intervention effectbe included in the research design. Longitudinal research can provide a greater understanding of the potential long-term benefits of cardiopulmonary fitnessand body composition.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 183-195 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation |
| Volume | 35 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - 2013 |
Keywords
- Body fat percentage
- Cardiopulmonary fitness
- Pilates exercise
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Education
- Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation