 [Nubella News] - Pilates, the wildly popular exercise program, may not have as many cardiovascular benefits as those sweating it out seem to think, according to a study sponsored by the American Council on Exercise.In a study appearing in the November/December 2005 edition of ACE Fitness Matters magazine, University of Wisconsin health-and-exercise researchers concluded that although Pilates participants feel as though they're working hard from a muscular standpoint, they're not achieving significant aerobic or calorie-burning benefits. Weight watchers looking to shed a few pounds will have to incorporate Pilates into a total program that involved diet and other forms of exercise.
"Pilates is a great form of exercise for most populations, especially for those looking for some toning and flexibility," said Stefanie Spilde, one of the study's lead researchers at the university's La Crosse campus. "It can be modified somewhat or scaled down to fit everyone's needs." Very few studies exist to measure Pilates' aerobic component. To study the caloric effect of Pilates, Spilde and her team recruited 15 healthy women from 18 to 26 who had at least intermediate levels of Pilates experience. They participated in two, 50-minute Pilates mat-training sessions, following a videotaped routine. At first, each woman followed a beginner mat Pilates routine of five-minute, breath-linked alignment exercise, then 40 minutes of basic Pilates exercises that followed the original method of sequencing. They concluded with five minutes of stretching and realignment. In the advanced routine, participants did similar exercises to the beginners routine, except they used advanced techniques of positioning and pacing for each exercise. During each session, researchers measured and recorded the women's heart rates and oxygen consumption. By analyzing the data, the researchers found that the intensity of the beginning Pilates routine was lower than the recommended guidelines for improving cardio-respiratory fitness. The average percentage of maximal heart rate was 54 percent, which is below the recommended 64-94 percent. The advanced Pilates routine elicited a higher aerobic response, with 62 percent of maximal heart rate and 43 percent of oxygen intake, equal to walking from three-and-a-half to four miles an hour. The study is available at www.acefitness.org/getfit/PilatesStudy2006.pdf. While the ACE study shows that a Pilates session burns a relatively small amount of calories, it's still a valuable addition to any exercise routine. Pilates' benefits include improved body mechanics, balance, coordination, strength and flexibility, said Dr. Cedric X. Bryant, the ACE's chief exercise physiologist, in a news release. Source: Nubella News
Posted by: Steve Smith
Reference: ACE Fitness Matters
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