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The impact of 10 weeks of Pilates exercises on the thoracic and lumbar curvatures of female college students

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Abstract

Background

A normal spine plays an important role in many human functions. The spine abnormally curved may include back pain, reducing mobility and stability. So, measuring the degree of spinal curvature and correcting them is very important.

Aims

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of 10 weeks of Pilates exercises on the thoracic and lumbar curvatures of female college students residing in dorms.

Methods

In this study experimental and applied 15 female students of University dormitories with hyperkyphosis and hyperlordosis were selected in an available samples manner. Spine Curvatures of volunteer students after completing the consent form and inclusion criteria were measured using a flexible ruler. From T2 to T12 vertebrae to determine thoracic deviation and from T12 and S2 vertebrae to determination of lumbar deflection was used. Pilates exercises duration 10 weeks 2 sessions per week and 1.5 h per session for abnormalities of hyperkyphosis and hyperlordosis were performed. Fifteen students participated in all of the Pilates training sessions.

Results

The mean of students’ thoracic and lumbar angles were 49.31 and 52.96 respectively. The results of Pilates exercises showed that on average 13.68 degrees of hyperkyphosis and 10.79 degrees of hyperlordosis were improved in students. Weight, height, and body mass index were effective factors on the thoracic or lumbar spine abnormalities.

Conclusions

Pilates practice based on the scientific principles of therapeutic planning can be effectively used to correct kyphosis and lordosis malformations of female students.

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Acknowledgements

The authors hereby acknowledge and appreciate the sincere cooperation of the respected female students’ Resorts who assisted us in conducting this study.

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran (Grant No 44/49089).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Occupational Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Student Research Committee, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

    Fereshteh Ahmadi

  2. Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

    Ali Safari Variani

  3. Department of Sport Science, Human Sciences Faculty, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran

    Aboozar Saadatian

  4. Social Determinants of Health Research Centre and Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Faculty of Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Bahonar Bolvar, Qazvin, Iran

    Sakineh Varmazyar

Authors
  1. Fereshteh Ahmadi
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  2. Ali Safari Variani
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  3. Aboozar Saadatian
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  4. Sakineh Varmazyar
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Contributions

FA and SV participated in the design of the study; FA contributed to data collection; FA, SV, ASV and AS participated in the data analysis, interpretation of results, writing and edit of the manuscript. AS guided Pilates exercises. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript, and agree with the order of presentation of the authors.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sakineh Varmazyar.

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Conflict of interest

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors. The code of ethics is IR.QUMS.REC.1397.025. This study was financially supported by Qazvin University of medical sciences.

Informed consent

Written consent was obtained from all participants.

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Ahmadi, F., Safari Variani, A., Saadatian, A. et al. The impact of 10 weeks of Pilates exercises on the thoracic and lumbar curvatures of female college students. Sport Sci Health 17, 989–997 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-021-00765-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-021-00765-4

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