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Effect of three different Pilates sessions on energy expenditure and aerobic metabolism in healthy females

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Abstract

Background

The Pilates method has become a popular exercise modality. However, there is little information on the energy expenditure (EE) and aerobic metabolism involved in a Pilates session. This study aimed to compare the EE of three different types of Pilates sessions.

Methods

Thirty-three sedentary women (22.03 ± 3.32 years old) performed three Pilates sessions: (1) a traditional session (TS): single set, low volume of repetitions, and long rest interval; (2) non-traditional session (NSS): single set, a high volume of repetitions, and short rest interval; and (3) non-traditional session (NMS): multiple sets and short rest interval. In each session, EE per minute (EE/min), total EE (TEE), oxygen consumption (V’O2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and metabolic equivalent were determined via a gas analyzer. Heart rate (HR) was measured via a HR monitor. Repeated measures two-way ANOVA (time × session) followed by Tukey test were used to compare differences in each variable for the sessions (P ≤ 0.05).

Results

When compared to the TS session, the non-traditional sessions resulted in greater EE/min, TEE, V’O2, RER, and mean HR (P < 0.001). TEE in NMS was also greater than NSS (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that a non-traditional approach to Pilates, with multiple sets, high repetitions, and a shorter rest interval induces greater metabolic cost than a traditional Pilates session. However, the total caloric cost of high-volume protocols such as the NMS performed in this study is small compared to aerobic exercise and does not contribute significantly to daily EE.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the financial support provided by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq-312136/2018-8) and by the Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Distrito Federal (FAPDF-9869.56.36441.10042016).

Funding

The authors are grateful for the financial support provided by the by the Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Distrito Federal (FAPDF-9869.56.36441.10042016).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Ceilândia, University of Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil

    Isabella da Silva Almeida & João Luiz Quagliotti Durigan

  2. Physiotherapy Department, Physiotherapy School Clinic, Catholic University of Brasilia, QS 07 - Lote 01 - EPCT, Brasilia, Federal District, Zip Code: 71966-700, Brazil

    Isabella da Silva Almeida, Letícia de Souza Andrade & Yomara Lima Mota

  3. School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, Faculty of Physical Education and Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Luís Mochizuki

  4. Graduate Program in Physical Education, Physical Education Department, Catholic University of Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil

    Caio Victor Sousa & Larissa Alves Maciel

  5. Athlete Health Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    João Henrique Falk Neto & Michael David Kennedy

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  1. Isabella da Silva Almeida
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  2. Letícia de Souza Andrade
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Contributions

ISA, LSA, CVS and LAM have designed and performed the majority of the experiments, analyzed data and prepared the manuscript. LM, JLQD, YLM, JHFN and MDK helped in the design of the experimental model, revision and prepared the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Isabella da Silva Almeida.

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Conflict of interest

The authors certify that there is no conflict of interest with any financial organization regarding the material discussed in the manuscript.

Ethics approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Catholic University of Brasilia, Protocol Number: 28657514.0.0000.0029.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Not applicable.

Availability of data and material

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to research group policy but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Almeida, I.d., Andrade, L.d., Mochizuki, L. et al. Effect of three different Pilates sessions on energy expenditure and aerobic metabolism in healthy females. Sport Sci Health 17, 223–231 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-020-00676-w

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