In the last ten years, the popularity of Pilates as a method of body conditioning has increased enormously. The Pilates method was created by Joseph Hubertus Pilates in the early 1920s. He designed an exercise program with the objective of increasing muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility while maintaining spine stabilization. This article reviews the scientific evidence concerning the use of Pilates in elderly adults, dancers, athletes, and healthy adults. Little research supports the benefits of this mode of exercise. Most of the published peer-reviewed research lacks adequate controls of the training interventions, has low reliability of the instruments used to measure strength and flexibility, uses improper statistical analysis, and lacks statistical power. In summary, there is a clear need for well-controlled Pilates research designs to provide a scientific validation of the claimed benefits of Pilates exercises in different populations.
HowarthSJ, AllisonAE, GrenierSG, CholewickiJ, McGillSM: On the implications of interpreting the stability index: A spine example. J Biomech.2004;37(8):1147–54.
3.
ReevesNP, CholewickiJ: Modeling the human lumbar spine for assessing spinal loads, stability, and risk of injury. Crit Rev Biomed Eng.2003;31(l-2) 73–139.
4.
Gardner-MorseMG, StokesIA: The effects of abdominal muscle reactivation on lumbar spine stability. Spine.1998;23(1):86–91.
5.
CholewickiJ, PanjabiMM, KhachatryanA: Stabilizing function of trunk flexor-extensor muscles around a neutral spine posture. Spine.1997;22(19):2207–12.
6.
BrownSH, Vera-GarciaFJ, McGillSM: Effects of abdominal muscle coactivation on the externally preloaded trunk: variations in motor control and its effect on spine stability. Spine.2006;31(13):E387–93.
7.
SapsfordRR, HodgesPW: Contraction of the pelvic floor muscles during abdominal maneuvers. Arch Phys Med Rehabil.2001;82:1081–8.
8.
PilatesJH, MillerWJ: Return to Life Through Contrology.New York: J.J. Augustin, 1948. [Reprinted in 1960 by Christopher Publishing House, Boston; reprinted in 2003 by The Pilates Method Alliance].
9.
PilatesJH: Your Health: A Corrective System of Exercising that Revolutionizes the Entire Field of Physical Education. Incline Village, NV: Presentation Dynamics, 1998.
10.
AndersonBD: Pushing for pilates: Lack of scientific research holds the movement system back, but interest in its use remains high. Rehab Management: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Rehabilitation.2001 June/July;14(5):34–6.
11.
LateyP: The Pilates method: History and philosophy. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies.2001;5(4):275–82.
12.
MalleryLH, MacDonaldEA, Hubley-KozeyCL, EarlME, RockwoodK, MacKnightC: The feasibility of performing resistance exercise with acutely ill hospitalized older adults. BMC Geriatrics.2003;3(1):3.
13.
McMillanA, ProteauL, LebeR: The effect of Pilates-based training on dancers' dynamic posture. J Dance Med Sci.1998;2(3):101–7.
14.
FittS, SturmanJ, McClain-SmithS: Effects of Pilates-based conditioning on strength, alignment, and range of motion in university ballet and modern dance majors. Kinesiology and Medicine for Dance. (1993/94;16(1):36–51.
15.
ParrottAA: The effects of Pilates technique and aerobic conditioning on dancers' technique and aesthetic. Kinesiology and Medicine for Dance.1993;15(2):45–64.
16.
McLainS, CarterCL, AbelJ: The effect of a conditioning and alignment program on the measurement of supine jump height and pelvic alignment when using the Current Concepts reformer. J Dance Med Sci.1997;1(4):149–54.
17.
AndersonK, BehmDG: Trunk muscle activity increases with unstable squat movements. Can J Applied Physiol.2005;30(1):33–45.
18.
DarinTL, IrelandML, WillsonJD, BallantyneBT, McClay DavisI: Core stability measures as risk factors for lower extremity injury in athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc.2004;36(6):926–34.
19.
NadlerSF, MalngaGA, BartoliLA, FeinbergJH, PrybicienM, DeprinceM: Hip muscle imbalance and low back pain in athletes: influences of core strengthening. Med Sci Sports Exerc.2002;34(1):9–16.
20.
LoosliAR, HeroldD: Knee reha- bilitation for dancers using a Pilates-based technique. Kinesiology and Medicine for Dance.1992;14(2):1–12.
21.
BrownSE, ClippingerK: Rehabilitation of anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency in a dancer using the clinical reformer and a balanced body exercise method. WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation.1996;7(2):109–14.
22.
SelfBP, BagleyA, PaulosL: Functional biomechanical analysis of the Pilates-based reformer during demi-plié movements. J Applied Biomech.1996;12(3):326–37.
23.
KhanK, : Overuse injuries in classical ballet. Sports Med.1995;19(5)341–57.
24.
HendersonJ, BrownSE, PriceS, DarrN: Foot pressure during a common ballet jump in standing and supine position. Med Probl Perform Art.1993;8(4):125–31.
25.
HutchinsonMR, TremainL, ChristiansenJ, BeitzelJ: Improving leaping ability in elite rhythmic gymnasts. Med Sci Sports Exerc.1998;30(10):1543–7.
26.
SegalNA, HeinJ, BasfordJR: The effects of Pilates training on flexibility and body composition: An observational study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil.2004;85:1977–81.
27.
McGillS: Low Back Disorders: Evidence-Based Prevention and Rehabilitation.Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc., 2003.
28.
OlsonMS, WillifordHN, MartinREllisM, WoolenE, EscoMR: The energy cost of a basic, intermediate, and advanced Pilates' mat workout. Med Sci Sports Exerc.2004;36(5 Suppl): S357.
