The Effect of Pilates and Low Intensity Cardio Exercise on Insulin Resistance in Women
Ömer Mumcu1
, Rabia Hürrem Özdurak Sıngın2, Faruk Yamaner2, Ferit Kerim Küçükler3
1Institute of Health Sciences, Hitit University, Çorum, Turkey
2Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Hitit University, Çorum, Turkey
3Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases Clinic, Memorıal Ataşehir Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey
Keywords: Insulin resistance, cardio exercise, pilates
Abstract
Objective: Aim of the study was to determine the effect of pilates and low-intensity cardio-exercise on insulin resistance among women who have developed insulin resistance.
Material and Methods: The study included women with insulin resistance aged 20 to 40 years who neither regularly attend any exercise program nor received any medication for the last six months. A total of 45 volunteer women were equally divided into low-intensity cardio exercise (LICE), pilates exercise (PE) and control (K) groups. Exercise groups received a 60-minute pilates or low-intensity cardio exercise program 3 times a week. Anthropometric measurements of the participants such as height, weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumferences, waist-to-hip ratio as well as blood parameters such as triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (TC), fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FI) and insulin resistance (IR) were measured before and after the 12 week exercise period.
Pre and post-test measurements of the groups were analyzed by Wilcoxon Sign-T test, differences between the groups by Kruskal Wallis H test, and paired comparisons of the groups were analyzed by Mann Whitney U test using SPSS 18.0 software.
Results: It was found that LICE and PE exercises caused a statistically significant decrease in weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumference, however, there was no statistically significant difference in C group. It was found that both exercises caused a statistically significant decrease in FBS, FI and IR values. Although LDL (p=0.04) and TC (p=0.03) were decreased in LICE group, they remained almost same in the PE group. After 12 weeks of exercise, there was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of FI and IR (p=0.01), but there was no significant difference in fasting blood glucose values. A statistically significant decline in IR (p=0.04) was observed in LICE group when compared to C group.
Conclusion: LICE program helps to decrease the IR when administered for at least 12 weeks. Pograms should include flexibility and balance impoving exercises such as pilates.
Cite this article as: Mumcu O, Ozdurak Singin RH, Yamaner F, Kucukler FK. The Effect of Pilates and Low Intensity Cardio Exercise on Insulin Resistance in Women. Turk J Sports Med. 2020;55(4):259-66.
