The effect of an eight-week Pilates exercise regimen on stress management and cortisol levels in sedentary women

Introduction: The aim of the present study is to examine the effect of eight weeks of Pilates exercise on stress management and cortisol levels in sedentary women. Material & Methods: Twenty-two sedentary women aged between 25 and 40 years old participated in this study. The subjects were randomly divided into the Pilates group (n=11) or the control group (n=11). The subjects in the Pilates group performed 60 minutes of Pilates exercise 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Body composition parameters, resting heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), cortisol levels and perceived stress were measured before and after the intervention. Results: The results showed that body fat percentage, cortisol levels, and perceived stress score were reduced after Pilates exercise (P<0.05); however for resting HR, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) no significant changes were observed. Conclusions: In summary, the results suggest that the Pilates exercise utilized in this study is a useful strategy for stress management in sedentary women.