Avaliação dos efeitos do método Pilates na função do tronco

Introducao: A fraqueza e fadiga dos musculos lombares sao caracterizadas em pacientes com lombalgia cronica. Diferentes tipos de exercicios tem sido empregados na literatura para o tratamento da lombalgia, sendo o metodo Pilates um deles. Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos de um treinamento fisico com Pilates na fl exibilidade, no equilibrio e na forca e resistencia lombar em individuos saudaveis. Metodo: Dezesseis voluntarios saudaveis, (idade media 26 anos) realizaram um periodo de treinamento com o metodo mat Pilates de 14 exercicios de (basico e intermediario), 2 x semana com duracao de 1h, durante 11 semanas. As medidas analisadas antes (pre-) e pos-treinamento Pilates foram: fl exibilidade (Banco de Wells), equilibrio unipodal (plataforma de forca), forca (dinamometro) e resistencia lombar (teste de Sorensen). Resultados: Amostra fi nal do estudo foi de sete voluntarios devido a desistencia dos demais participantes. Houve pequena alteracao conforme a sensibilidade da mudanca (≤ 0.43 effect size) em todas as variaveis de medida pos-treinamento Pilates: fl exibilidade (media inicial 32.6 vs 35.2 cm: p = 0.249), equilibrio (deslocamento do centro de pressao 7.4 vs 6.8 cm2: p = 0.507), forca (247 vs 269 Nm: p = 0.565), e resistencia lombar (95 vs 98 segundos). Conclusao: Os resultados deste estudo mostraram pouca melhora na funcao do tronco com o Pilates. Embora os exercicios selecionados no presente estudo ofereceram o minimo de resistencia e especifi cidade para musculatura lombar, novos estudos com maior numero de amostra e melhor padronizacao do Pilates sao necessarios para determinar os reais efeitos deste metodo na prevencao e intervencao de lombalgia. Introduction: The weakness and fatigue of the back muscles are characterized in patients with chronic low back pain (LBP). Different types of exercises has been used in the literature for improving the function of trunk in patients with LBP, such as Pilates method. Objective: To assess the effects of Pilates on fl exibility, balance, strength and endurance of the lumbar extensor muscles in healthy subjects. Method: Sixteen healthy volunteers (mean age 26 yrs) performed a training program with a mat method of 14 Pilates exercises (basic and intermediate), 2 x a week for a session of approximately 1h, during 11 weeks. The main outcome measures analyzed before (pre-) and post-Pilates training were: fl exibility (sit-and-reach during a Wells test), unipodal support (under a force platform), strength (lumbar dynamometer) and endurance (Sorensen test) of lumbar muscles. Results: Final sample was related to seven volunteers only because others participants decided to go out in the middle of study. Few changes, on averaging variables, concerning to sensibility of measuring change (≤ 0.43 effect size) were found in all variables pos-training Pilates: fl exibility (mean initial score 32.6 vs 35.2 cm fi nal score: p = 0.249), balance (displacement of pressure center of feet 7.4 vs 6.8 cm2: p = 0.507), strength (247 vs 269 Nm: p = 0.565) and endurance (95 vs 98 s) of lumbar muscles. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed little improvement of trunk function with the mat Pilates method. Although the exercises chosen in this study offered low resistance and specifi city to targeted the back muscles, new studies using much more subjects and with better standardization of Pilates exercises are still need to determine the real effects of this exercise modality in prevention and intervention for LBP patients.