Effects of Pilates-Based Exercise on Life Satisfaction, Physical Self-Concept and Health Status in Adult Women

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Pilates- based mat exercises on life satisfaction, perception of appreciation by other people, perception of physical appearance, perception of functionality, total physical self-concept, and perception of health status in healthy women. A randomized controlled trial was con- ducted in Évora, Portugal, in 2008, in which 62 healthy adult women were randomized to a Pilates-based mat (experimental group) (n D 38, mean age ̇ SD, 41.08 ̇ 6.64 years) or a control group (n D 24, mean age ̇ SD, 40.25 ̇ 7.70 years). Experimen- tal group participants performed the Initial Mat of Body Control Pilates twice per week, 60-minutes per session. Repeated measure- ments were performed at baseline, 3 months and 6 months. No significant differences between the two groups were observed in life satisfaction, perception of appreciation by other people, perception of physical appearance, perception of functionality, total physical self-concept, and perception of health status at three time point measures (baseline, after 3 months, and after 6 months). No sig- nificant differences were observed in the control group over time. The experimental group showed significant improvements between baseline and six months in life satisfaction (p D .04), perception of appreciation by other people (p D .002), perception of physical appearance (p D .001), perception of functionality (p D .01), total physical self-concept (p D .001), perception of health status (p D .013) and between three and six months in life satisfaction (p D .002), perception of appreciation by other people (p D .05), perception of physical appearance (p D .001), perception of func- tionality (p D .02), and total physical self-concept (p D .001). Life satisfaction, perception of appreciation by other people, perception of physical appearance, perception of functionality, total physical self-concept and perception of health status may improve after 6 months of Pilates-based mat exercise.