Community Health Journal

Community Health Journal

The Effect of Eight Weeks of Pilates Exercises on the Pulmonary Function of Women with a History of COVID-19 Disease

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
E Tamjidi 1
R ranjbar 2
M ghanbarzadeh 2
1 Department of exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Chamran university of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.
2 Associate Professor of exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Chamran university of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.
10.22123/chj.2025.447548.2080
Abstract
Introduction: Covid-19 is a widespread disease and its treatment is important. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of eight weeks of Pilates exercises on the lung function of women with a history of covid-19 disease.
Materials and Methods: 20 inactive young women with a history of covid-19 disease in 1400 were randomly divided into two Pilates training groups (N=12, eight weeks, three sessions per week) and the control group (N=8). Respiratory indices (VC, FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, MVV, and VO2max) were measured before and after the exercise program using a spirometer. Using SPSS26 software, to determine the difference between the groups using the ANCOVA test and to determine the difference between the pre-test times between the groups using the independent t-test and the pre-post-test times using the t-test A pair with a significant level (p<0.05) was used.
Results: The average age of the subjects (control: 31.87±8.9, training: 39.66±7.26 years) was. Vital capacity (p=0.017), maximum voluntary deep breathing (MVV) (p=0.001), VO2max (p=0.041), in the post-test compared to the pre-test in the group Exercise had a significant increase. Also, VO2max in the training group increased significantly (p=0.001) and weight (p=0.001) and BMI (p=0.001) decreased significantly. Also; There was a significant decrease in weight and BMI variables in the post-test training group compared to the pre-test (p=0.001) and a significant increase in the control group (p=0.001).
Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed; Pilates exercise can be effective as a rehabilitation factor in the post-corona era for young women with a history of covid-19. However, more research in this field is necessary to reach definitive guidelines.
Keywords
Covid-19
Pilates
Respiratory Function
Young Women
Maximum Oxygen Consumption
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Community Health Journal
Volume 18, Issue 3
Spring 2025
Pages 74-87