• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2023

Background: Most Pilates programs for older adults have been based on mat Pilates, and there has been limited research on Pilates with mini-balls. Therefore, this study aims to compare the effects of Pilates with mini-balls and mat Pilates interventions on strength, total body endurance, flexibility, and dynamic equilibrium to determine the differences. Methods: The elderly aged 65 or older living in Gyeongsan, Daegu, were divided into two groups, and the experimental group (n=10) conducted a Pilates exercise program using mini balls for 12 weeks, and the control group (n=10) conducted a mat Pilates exercise program for 12 weeks without mini balls. Strength, endurance, flexibility, and dynamic equlibrium were measured as a pre-test, and post-test was performed in the same way after 12 weeks of application. Results: Comparing the mini-ball Pilates group to the mat Pilates group, there was a significant difference (p<.05) in the 'chair sit and reach' after the intervention. In the within-group comparison, there was a significant increase (p<.05) in 'arm curl right', '30-second chair stand', '2-minute walk', 'back scratch', 'chair sit and reach', and '2.44m up and go' in the experimental group using the mini-ball Pilates program. Mat Pilates program significantly increased the within-group comparisons in '30-second chair stand' and 'chair sit and reach' (p<.05). Conclusion: It is suggested that mini-ball Pilates has a positive effect on the senior fitness and will be a good exercise method for using it as an exercise program for the elderly in the future.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.187-197
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the changes in the muscle activity of the trunk stabilizer muscles before and after incorporating Pilates breathing during three types of Pilates chair exercises. Methods: This study included 33 healthy men and women in their 20's; they were recruited according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. sEMG was used to measure the changes in the muscle activity in the internal oblique/transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis, and erector spinae during the three types of Pilates chair movements (footwork, twist footwork, and bridging) without and with the Pilates breathing integration. The muscle activities of the trunk stabilizers between without and with Pilates breathing were statistically analyzed and compared. Results: The internal oblique/transverse abdominis showed an increase and a significant difference in the muscle activity in all three movements of footwork, twist footwork, and bridging after the Pilates breathing integration (p<.001). The muscle activity of the rectus abdominis (p<.05) and the erector spinae (p<.05) also increased and showed a significant difference after the Pilates breathing incorporation, except in the bridging movement for the erector spinae. The increase in the rate after integrating Pilates breathing was relatively greater in internal oblique/transverse abdominis than in other muscles. Conclusion: When Pilates breathing was applied, the activities of the trunk stabilizer muscles increased significantly and immediately in all three movements of Pilates chair footwork, twist footwork, and bridging. This means that the use of breathing is expected to have a positive and immediate effect on the activation of trunk stabilizers, thus indicating that it can possibly be an effective re-enforcing tool to promote trunk stability when it is integrated to the Pilates chair exercise. Incorporating Pilates breathing also seemed to have a tendency to activate the deep trunk stabilizer muscles more than the superficial stabilizer muscles.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.128-136
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• 2023

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an 8-week closed kinetic chain typed Reformer and Chair Pilates exercise on static and dynamic lower limb alignment for healthy female adults. Method: Ten healthy young female adults without musculoskeletal injury history in last 6 months (Age: 29.3 ± 3.5 yrs., Height: 165 ± 3.4 cm, Body mass: 58.2 ± 5.4 kg) participated in this study. All participants asked to join the 8-week closed kinetic chain typed Reformer and Chair Pilates exercise, and the program was conducted for 60 minutes twice a week. Participants were asked to be measure a static Q-angle and performed free squat one week before and after the program. A 3-D motion analysis with 8 infrared cameras and 5 channels of EMG was executed in this study. The effectiveness of the training was evaluated by paired t-test, and the significance level was set at .05. Results: A significantly decreased in internal rotation angles was found at hip joint during free squat after the training. Also, significantly decreased in lateral rotation angles were found at knee and ankle joint during free squat after training. Finally, significantly decreased in muscle activations were found at adductor longus and peroneus longus during free squat after training. Conclusion: From results of our study, it is concluded that an 8-week closed kinetic chain typed Pilates exercise positively effect on lower limb alignment during dynamic movement.