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Abstract

The central nervous system uses proprioceptive inputs from muscles, joints, and skin to maintain postural balance. Pilates exercises, which strengthen abdominal and pelvic muscles, are known to improve spinal stability and postural control. However, limited research has specifically examined the effects of mat-based Pilates training on center of pressure (COP) parameters, a key indicator of postural stability, especially over different training durations. PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the effects of mat-based Pilates training on postural balance by analyzing center of pressure (COP) parameters at three time points: before training (Pre-T), after four weeks of training (4W-T), and after eight weeks of training (8W-T). METHODS: The training and the balance tests were performed at the Biomechanics Laboratory at the São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro – Sao Paulo, Brazil. Seven university students (7 female), with a mean age of 21.7 ± 4.0 years, participated in the Pilates training (8 weeks) and unipodal balance tests done on the AMTI® force platform, for 30 seconds. The variables analyzed were: 1) COPx and COPy; 2) ellipse area produced by COP displacement with 95% of the data; and 3) COP displacement average velocity. Friedman and Bonferroni post hoc tests were applied to compare the results, with a significance level of < 0.05. RESULTS: The results showed significant improvements in most parameters after eight weeks of training. The Ellipse Area of the Center of Pressure Displacement with 95% of the Data (Area95COP) decreased from 24 cm² (IQ: 18.7–28.3) to 4.7 cm² (IQ: 3.9–6.0) (p < 0.01). Significant reductions were also observed for the Displacement of the Center of Pressure on the Y-axis (COP-Y) (2.9 cm to 0.55 cm, p < 0.05) and the Average Velocity of the Center of Pressure (AvgVelCOP) (3.1 cm/s to 2.4 cm/s, p < 0.05) at 8W-T. However, no significant changes were observed at 4W-T compared to Pre-T. CONCLUSION: Pilates exercises showed significant improvements in postural balance only after eight weeks of training. These results suggest that the method enhances the control of deep postural muscles (stabilizers), promoting greater trunk stability. Consequently, trunk-related movements become more precise and controlled, with stabilizer muscles responding more efficiently to external stimuli.

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