Effect of pilates exercise on students' balance, coordination and change in static endurance of trunk muscle

Abstract

Recently scientists have drawn attention to the fact, that physical activity of adults and children decreases and the style of life is very inactive. Modern lifestyles are increasingly encourages young people to allow passive leisure time, which may impair balance, flexibility and static endurance of trunk muscles. Hypokinesia, lack of exercise, active and passive activity changes deficiency weakens the health. Research aim - to determine whether Pilates exercise has an effect on students’ balance, coordination and change of static endurance of trunk muscle. Methods. The study was conducted at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Institute of Sports. II-III year students were tested (n=25, age - 20.44 (3.25)). Subjects were divided into two groups: research group (n=11, age - 21.73 (3.64)), those who attended Pilates twice a week; and control group (n=14, age - 21.29 (1.68)), those who didn’t have any physical activity. The tests were carried out three times with the research group: at the beginning of the study (BEFORE), after 2 months of Pilates exercises (AFTER) and after a 2 months break (AFTER THE BREAK), the control group was tested twice: at the beginning of the study (BEFORE) and 2 months later (AFTER). Flamingo Test - it's a test where balance of a person standing on a dominant foot on a narrow balance beam is tested. It is measured how many times the person falls off the balance beam in one minute. Sit-Reach test – during the test one’s flexibility by bending forward is being assessed. The test is done by sitting on the floor, the soles of the feet are placed flat against the device and making best effort to reach forward along the measuring line as far as possible. Static Trunk’s muscle endurance assessment test – during this assessment[...]