Pilates and Aerobic Training on Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Flexibility, Strength, and Muscular Power in Young Adults

NCT ID: NCT07107113

Last Updated: 2026-01-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 80 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-08-10
• Study Completion Date: 2025-12-10

Brief Summary

Pilates exercises have been shown to be effective for a range of outcomes; however, it is unclear whether they can effectively contribute to improving cardiorespiratory fitness, especially when compared with aerobic training, which is known to be effective for this purpose. Furthermore, the differences between these modalities for outcomes such as flexibility, strength, and muscular power require further investigation. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of Pilates compared to aerobic training, as well as the combination of these activities, on cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility, strength, and muscular power in young adults. Eighty women aged 18 to 40 will be randomized to four groups: Pilates (n = 20), aerobic (n = 20), Pilates plus aerobic (n = 20), and control (n = 20). Cardiorespiratory fitness will be assessed directly to estimate V̇O2max. Trunk flexibility in flexion and extension will be measured with a fleximeter (°). Lower-limb, upper-limb, and trunk muscle strength will be assessed by isokinetic dynamometry (N.m), while lower-limb muscle power (W) will be assessed by countermovement jumping on a force platform. Interventions will be conducted for 12 weeks, three times a week, with a 60-minute session duration. Analyses will be conducted by intention-to-treat and per-protocol.

Conditions

Improvement of Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Flexibility, Strength and Muscle Power in Healthy Participants

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Pilates

A total of 13 exercises were selected for the Pilates group, including two stretching exercises and 11 strengthening exercises for the main muscle groups. Mat exercises and equipment exercises (Ladder Barrel, Cadillac, Step Chair, Reformer, Springboard, and Small Barrel) will be used. Two protocols will be adopted for progression (protocol 1: weeks 1-6; protocol 2: weeks 7-12). Two sets of 10 repetitions will be performed, with a 30-second rest between sets and exercises. The two-by-two rule will be used to increase the load. In this case, the load will increase when the participant performs ≥ 2 repetitions above their target of 10 repetitions in the last set, in two consecutive training sessions. The interventions will last 12 weeks, three times a week, for 60 minutes.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Pilates Exercise

Intervention Type: OTHER

Pilates exercises are characterized as muscle strengthening and stretching.

Aerobic

The aerobic group will perform walking/running exercises on a treadmill, using the extensive interval training method. To define the intensity and periodization of the training, the running speed associated with V̇O2max (vV̇O2max), second ventilatory threshold (vLV2), and average speed between vV̇O2max and vLV2 (v50%Δ) will be used as a reference. These parameters will be obtained from a maximal exercise test on a treadmill, performed before the start of the interventions. Two protocols will be adopted, with adjustments in density (work-to-recovery ratio) every two weeks. The interventions will last 12 weeks, three times a week, for 60 minutes.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Aerobic exercises

Intervention Type: OTHER

Aerobic exercises are characterized as a modality that works cardiorespiratory fitness.

Pilates plus aerobic

They will perform the same exercises as the Pilates group, however, with 1 set of 10 repetitions, with a 30-second rest between sets and exercises, totaling 30 minutes of intervention per session. In the second half of the intervention period, aerobic exercises will be performed, identical to those of the aerobic group, but for 30 minutes. The interventions will last 12 weeks, three times a week, for 60 minutes.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Pilates exercises plus aerobic exercise

Intervention Type: OTHER

Pilates exercises are characterized as muscle strengthening and stretching, while aerobic exercises are characterized as a modality that works cardiorespiratory fitness.

Control

This group will be instructed to maintain their usual routine.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Pilates Exercise

Pilates exercises are characterized as muscle strengthening and stretching.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Aerobic exercises

Aerobic exercises are characterized as a modality that works cardiorespiratory fitness.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Pilates exercises plus aerobic exercise

Pilates exercises are characterized as muscle strengthening and stretching, while aerobic exercises are characterized as a modality that works cardiorespiratory fitness.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• female;
• age between 18 and 40 years; - not having exercised in the last 6 months;
• agreeing not to perform any other type of exercise during the study period;
• being fit to exercise according to the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) criteria;
• having no musculoskeletal or neurological disorders that could affect exercise performance;
• having no known cardiovascular or respiratory diseases;
• having no cognitive impairment that could lead to the inability to follow simple commands;
• not being a smoker;
• not being pregnant;
• not being on any specific diets.

Exclusion Criteria

• refusing to sign the informed consent form;
• being unable to complete the pre-intervention assessment procedures.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Universidade Estadual do Norte do Parana

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Raphael Goncalves de Oliveira

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná

Jacarezinho, Paraná, Brazil

Countries

Brazil

Other Identifiers

GPASD_002_2025

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id