Sedentary Behavior Pulmonary Function Cardiopulmonary Fitness
Conditions
Keywords
Pilates Diaphragmatic Breathing Pulmonary Function Sedentary Women Resting Heart Rate Core Endurance Peak Expiratory Flow
Brief summary
This randomized controlled trial evaluated whether adding diaphragmatic breathing exercises to an eight-week supervised Pilates program improves pulmonary function, resting heart rate, and core endurance in sedentary women aged 35 years and older. Participants were randomized to Pilates combined with diaphragmatic breathing or Pilates alone. Both groups trained three times per week for eight weeks.
Detailed description
Participants were sedentary women aged 35 years and older who had not participated in regular structured exercise during the previous six months. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either Pilates combined with diaphragmatic breathing exercises or Pilates alone. Both groups completed supervised exercise sessions three times per week for eight weeks. Each session lasted approximately 60 minutes and included warm-up, main Pilates exercises, and cool-down. The experimental group additionally performed structured diaphragmatic and abdominal breathing exercises integrated into the Pilates sessions. Pulmonary function, cardiovascular parameters, functional performance, anthropometry, and echocardiographic safety parameters were assessed at baseline and after the intervention.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALPilates Exercise Program
Participants completed a supervised mat-based Pilates exercise program three times per week for eight weeks. Each session lasted approximately 60 minutes and included a warm-up phase, a main Pilates exercise component targeting core stability, flexibility, postural alignment, and muscular endurance, and a cool-down phase.
BEHAVIORALDiaphragmatic Breathing Exercise
Participants performed structured diaphragmatic and abdominal breathing exercises integrated into the Pilates sessions. The breathing protocol included slow nasal inhalation, controlled oral exhalation, abdominal expansion, segmental thoracic breathing, and guided breathing rhythm during selected Pilates exercises.
Sponsors
Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Outcome assessors were blinded to group allocation. Participants and exercise instructors could not be blinded because of the nature of the exercise intervention.
Intervention model description
Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of two parallel intervention groups. The experimental group completed a supervised Pilates program combined with structured diaphragmatic breathing exercises, whereas the active comparator group completed the same supervised Pilates program without specific diaphragmatic breathing instruction. Both groups trained three times per week for eight weeks. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and after the intervention by assessors blinded to group allocation.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
35 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Female participants aged 35 years or older * Sedentary status, defined as no regular structured exercise participation during the previous six months * Non-smoker * No diagnosed cardiovascular, pulmonary, or musculoskeletal disorder * Not using medications known to influence cardiopulmonary function * Provided written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* Pregnancy * Recent surgery or injury * Participation in another structured exercise program during the study period * Any cardiovascular, pulmonary, or musculoskeletal condition that could affect safe participation * Use of medication known to influence cardiopulmonary function
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Peak Expiratory Flow | Baseline and after 8 weeks | Peak expiratory flow was assessed by spirometry. The change from baseline to the end of the eight-week intervention was evaluated. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Forced Vital Capacity | Baseline and after 8 weeks | Forced vital capacity was assessed by spirometry. |
| Change in Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second | Baseline and after 8 weeks | FEV1 was assessed by spirometry. |
| Change in FEV1/FVC Ratio | Baseline and after 8 weeks | The FEV1/FVC ratio was calculated from spirometric measurements. |
| Change in Resting Heart Rate | Baseline and after 8 weeks | Resting heart rate was measured after at least 10 minutes of seated rest. |
| Change in Plank Test Performance | Baseline and after 8 weeks | Core muscular endurance was assessed using the prone plank test, recorded in seconds. |
| Change in Echocardiographic Safety Parameters | Baseline and after 8 weeks | Echocardiographic parameters including ejection fraction, ventricular dimensions, wall thickness, and flow velocities were evaluated for safety monitoring. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORDUYGU DURMAZ, PHD
Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine
Outcome results
None listed