Completed

NCT Number: NCT07650929

Pilates With Diaphragmatic Breathing in Sedentary Women

This randomized controlled trial evaluated whether adding diaphragmatic breathing exercises to an eight-week supervised Pilates program improves pulmonary function, resting heart rate, and core endurance in sedentary women aged 35 years and older. Participants were randomized to Pilates combined with diaphragmatic breathing or Pilates alone. Both groups trained three times per week for eight weeks.

Completed

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Key information

Conditions

Sedentary Behavior Pulmonary Function Cardiopulmonary Fitness

Age range

35 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine

Balıkesir, Bandırma, 10010, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Participants were sedentary women aged 35 years and older who had not participated in regular structured exercise during the previous six months. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either Pilates combined with diaphragmatic breathing exercises or Pilates alone. Both groups completed supervised exercise sessions three times per week for eight weeks. Each session lasted approximately 60 minutes and included warm-up, main Pilates exercises, and cool-down. The experimental group additionally performed structured diaphragmatic and abdominal breathing exercises integrated into the Pilates sessions. Pulmonary function, cardiovascular parameters, functional performance, anthropometry, and echocardiographic safety parameters were assessed at baseline and after the intervention.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Female participants aged 35 years or older
Sedentary status, defined as no regular structured exercise participation during the previous six months
Non-smoker
No diagnosed cardiovascular, pulmonary, or musculoskeletal disorder
Not using medications known to influence cardiopulmonary function
Provided written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Pregnancy
Recent surgery or injury
Participation in another structured exercise program during the study period
Any cardiovascular, pulmonary, or musculoskeletal condition that could affect safe participation
Use of medication known to influence cardiopulmonary function

Treatment and study plan

Pilates Exercise Program

Behavioral

Participants completed a supervised mat-based Pilates exercise program three times per week for eight weeks. Each session lasted approximately 60 minutes and included a warm-up phase, a main Pilates exercise component targeting core stability, flexibility, postural alignment, and muscular endurance, and a cool-down phase.

Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise

Behavioral

Participants performed structured diaphragmatic and abdominal breathing exercises integrated into the Pilates sessions. The breathing protocol included slow nasal inhalation, controlled oral exhalation, abdominal expansion, segmental thoracic breathing, and guided breathing rhythm during selected Pilates exercises.

Primary outcomes

Change in Peak Expiratory Flow

Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks

Peak expiratory flow was assessed by spirometry. The change from baseline to the end of the eight-week intervention was evaluated.

Secondary outcomes

Change in Forced Vital Capacity

Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks

Forced vital capacity was assessed by spirometry.
Change in Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second

Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks

FEV1 was assessed by spirometry.
Change in FEV1/FVC Ratio

Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks

The FEV1/FVC ratio was calculated from spirometric measurements.
Change in Resting Heart Rate

Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks

Resting heart rate was measured after at least 10 minutes of seated rest.
Change in Plank Test Performance

Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks

Core muscular endurance was assessed using the prone plank test, recorded in seconds.
Change in Echocardiographic Safety Parameters

Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks

Echocardiographic parameters including ejection fraction, ventricular dimensions, wall thickness, and flow velocities were evaluated for safety monitoring.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of Pilates Combined With Diaphragmatic Breathing on Cardiopulmonary Markers in Sedentary Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: PDB-Pilates

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2025
Study completion: 2025
First posted: Jun 16, 2026
Registry last updated: Jun 16, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.