Pilates Exercise and Physical Performance, Body Composition, and Serum Myokines

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks Pilates exercise on body composition, physical performance and serum myokines of overweight and obese women. Twenty six middle-age, sedentary overweight and obese women volunteered to participate in this study. They were allocated to either the experimental (n = 13) or control group (n = 13). The experimental group participated in an 8-week Pilates exercise program (3 days per week). Body height and weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC); muscular strength and endurance; static and dynamic balance; serum levels of Follistatin, Decorin and Myostatin were assessed at baseline and at the end of the study. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) test were used for data analysis (p &lt; 0.05). Upper and lower body strength increased significantly in the experimental group (p = 0.003 and p &lt; 0.001, respectively). Moreover, muscular endurance, consisting push up and sit up tests, in the experimental group increased significantly (p = 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively). Additionally, static and dynamic balance improved significantly in experimental group (p = 0.002 and p = 0.005, respectively). However, there was no significant difference between experimental and control groups in body weight, BMI, WC and serum levels of Decorin, Follistatin, and Myostatin (p &gt; 0.05).本研究旨在探讨8周普拉提（Pilates）运动对超重与肥胖女性的身体成分、运动表现及血清肌因子的影响。本研究共招募26名中年久坐状态的超重、肥胖女性志愿者，将其随机分为实验组（n=13）与对照组（n=13）。实验组完成每周3次、为期8周的普拉提运动干预方案。分别于干预前（基线）及研究结束时，对受试者的身高、体重、体质指数（Body Mass Index, BMI）、腰围（Waist Circumference, WC）、肌肉力量与耐力、静态及动态平衡能力，以及血清卵泡抑素（Follistatin）、饰胶蛋白（Decorin）和肌抑素（Myostatin）水平进行检测评估。数据分析采用协方差分析（Analysis of Covariance, ANCOVA），设定检验水准为p<0.05。结果显示，实验组上肢与下肢力量均显著提升（分别为p=0.003与p<0.001）；以俯卧撑、仰卧起坐测试为评估指标的肌肉耐力亦显著改善（分别为p=0.01与p=0.03）；静态与动态平衡能力同样得到显著提升（分别为p=0.002与p=0.005）。然而，实验组与对照组在体重、BMI、腰围及血清饰胶蛋白、卵泡抑素、肌抑素水平方面均无显著性差异（p>0.05）。