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Can mat Pilates intervention increase lower limb rate of force development in overweight physically active older women?

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Abstract

Purpose

This study investigated the effect of 12 weeks of mat Pilates intervention (60 min sessions, three times per week) on lower limb rate of force development (RFD) parameters (absolute and relative values and contractile impulse) in physically active and overweight elderly women.

Methods

Fourteen elderly women (age 62 ± 3 years) participated in this study. Workouts were performed in three sets; repetitions increased every 4 weeks, and exercise difficulty increased from beginner to intermediate and advanced levels. Knee extensor and hip extensor–flexor RTD parameters were measured at different time intervals (0–30, 0–50, 0–100, 0–150, 0–200, and 0–250 ms) before (weeks − 4 and 0, control period) and after 6 and 12 weeks of mat Pilates intervention.

Results

No statistical difference (p > 0.05) was observed between weeks − 4 and 0 (control period). However, significant increments were observed after week 12 for most time intervals for absolute and relative knee extensor and hip extensor–flexor RFD, as well as for contractile impulse for the same muscle groups.

Conclusions

We conclude that the mat Pilates causes significant increments in knee extensor and hip extensor–flexor RFD and contractile impulse using an incremental structure of training in physically active elderly women.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the study participants, CAPES for the scholarship for JB, and CNPq for the fellowship for FD and MAV.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Biomecânica, Centro de Desportos, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus, Trindade, Florianópolis, SC, 88040900, Brazil

    Josefina Bertoli, Fernando Diefenthaeler, Daniele Detanico, Juliano Dal Pupo & Cíntia de la Rocha Freitas

  2. Laboratório de Pesquisa do Exercício, Universidade Federal de Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Marco Aurélio Vaz

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  1. Josefina Bertoli
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  2. Fernando Diefenthaeler
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  3. Daniele Detanico
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  6. Cíntia de la Rocha Freitas
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Correspondence to Josefina Bertoli.

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The authors of this manuscript declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The local Human Research Ethics Committee approved the study (Protocol No. 44972915.9.0000.0110), procedures were conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and the participants signed an informed consent form.

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Bertoli, J., Diefenthaeler, F., Detanico, D. et al. Can mat Pilates intervention increase lower limb rate of force development in overweight physically active older women?. Sport Sci Health 15, 407–415 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-019-00533-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-019-00533-5

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