Pilates for Sedentary Individuals
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-59
SponsorMahidol University
About this trial
The global rise in physical inactivity represents an escalating public health crisis, with the proportion of insufficiently active adults projected to reach 35% by 2030. Office workers are at the highest risk due to prolonged occupational sitting; a lifestyle factor heavily linked to various musculoskeletal disorders. While maintaining an upright posture relies on the synergistic coordination of deep core muscles, extended sitting disrupts this muscular balance, leading to chronic postural decay. Although Pilates is proven to improve core muscle thickness, enhance physical fitness, and alleviate low back pain, existing literature shows high variability in training durations (ranging from 6 to 16 weeks) and lacks definitive conclusions regarding its long-term, residual effects post-intervention. Consequently, it remains unclear whether the benefits of Pilates can be sustained once the structured training stops. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Pilates on core stability and physical fitness among sedentary individuals, providing insights into sustainable exercise interventions.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Aged between 18 and 59 years.
Had a Body Mass Index (BMI) of ≥ 23 kg/m2.
Engaged in sedentary activities (sitting) for more than 7 hours per day.
Passed the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) assessment.
Disqualifiers
Had visual impairments that could not be corrected with corrective lenses or glasses.
Had a medical history of spinal or lower extremity surgery.
Had medical conditions or received medications that affected balance and gait, such as neurological diseases or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
Pregnant during the study period.
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Pilates exercise
Other interventionThe 1-hour Pilates exercise program was supervised by an instructor.
Walking exercise
Other interventionThe 1-hour walking exercise program was supervised by a physical therapist. Participants walked on a treadmill, where the speed was gradually increased to achieve a moderate intensity level, maintaining their heart rates within 64% to 70% of their maximum heart rate.
Treatment groups
34 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Experimental groupExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Control groupActive comparator 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Muscle thickness
A handheld ultrasound device was used to measure trunk muscle thickness at rest and during contraction.
Time frame
Baseline, at 4 weeks post-training, at 8 weeks post-training, at 2 weeks post-training cessation, and at 4 weeks post-training cessation.2
Muscle strength
A handheld dynamometer was used to measure trunk muscle strength. Participants were instructed to maintain a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) for 5 seconds per trial, with a 30-second rest period between trials to minimize fatigue.
Time frame
Baseline, at 4 weeks post-training, at 8 weeks post-training, at 2 weeks post-training cessation, and at 4 weeks post-training cessation.3
Muscle flexibility
The sit-and-reach test was used to measure lower back and hamstring flexibility. Participants completed static stretching for 5 minutes before assessment. During the assessment, participants sat with knees fully extended and feet hip-width apart against the sit-and-reach box. They then reached forward, using their fingertips to displace the sliding scale as far as possible in a single trial.
Time frame
Baseline, at 4 weeks post-training, at 8 weeks post-training, at 2 weeks post-training cessation, and at 4 weeks post-training cessation.4
Muscle endurance
The McGill Core Endurance Test was used to measure trunk muscle endurance. Each test was conducted once, with the duration recorded using a digital stopwatch. Timing commenced once the participant achieved the standardized starting position and ceased when they could no longer maintain the required posture.
Time frame
Baseline, at 4 weeks post-training, at 8 weeks post-training, at 2 weeks post-training cessation, and at 4 weeks post-training cessation.Secondary outcomes
1
Posture
Posture was measured using the Posture-analyzing and Virtual Reconstructing (PAViR) system, which utilized an RGB-D camera for skeletal reconstruction.
Time frame
Baseline, at 4 weeks post-training, at 8 weeks post-training, at 2 weeks post-training cessation, and at 4 weeks post-training cessation.2
Pain level
Pain location was identified through participant interviews, while pain intensity was quantified using a 0-10 Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
Time frame
Baseline, at 4 weeks post-training, at 8 weeks post-training, at 2 weeks post-training cessation, and at 4 weeks post-training cessation.3
Health-Related Quality of Life
Health-Related Quality of Life was measured using the Thai version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief (WHOQOL-BREF-THAI). This 26-item instrument assessed four core domains: physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment. Responses were scored on a Likert scale, with higher scores indicating better health status and overall QoL.
Time frame
Baseline, at 4 weeks post-training, at 8 weeks post-training, at 2 weeks post-training cessation, and at 4 weeks post-training cessation.Sponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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