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Pilates for low risk pregnant women: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

journal contribution
posted on 2021-01-01, 00:00 authored by Melissa Mazzarino, Debra KerrDebra Kerr, Meg E Morris
Background
Pilates has growing appeal to pregnant women, as a form of exercise and relaxation. It is purported to benefit lumbo-pelvic stability, as well as motor control, strength and endurance. Some suggest that modified Pilates exercises may assist low risk pregnant women to enjoy a healthier pregnancy and prepare for the physical demands of labour and birth. The feasibility and safety of Pilates during pregnancy is poorly understood. We describe the protocol for a feasibility study designed to compare a midwife-led 6-week community-based Pilates intervention with standard antenatal care.
Methods
A convenience sample of 30 low-risk pregnant women will be recruited from private obstetric clinics in Melbourne, Australia. Participants shall be randomly allocated to a six-week, one-hour weekly Pilates exercises group session or to usual care. The Pilates exercise class will have a warm-up phase, Pilates exercises, breathing exercises, and a cool down phase. Exercises have been designed to prepare for active birth. The primary outcome will be feasibility of implementation, determined by recruitment, retention, adherence and safety. Secondary outcomes include women’s health (quality of life, pain, mobility for daily activities, lower extremity performance, abdominal separation, continence) and labour and birth outcomes (duration of first stage and second stage labour, analgesia used, mode of birth). Validated questionnaires will include the Quality of life 12-item short form survey; Pregnancy Mobility Index, and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire. Lower extremity performance and abdominal separation will also be measured.
Discussion
This trial will provide preliminary data regarding the feasibility and safety of Pilates exercise in healthy pregnant women. It will also provide preliminary outcome data used to inform the design of a future large scale, multi-centre RCT.

History

Journal

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies

Volume

Articles in Press

Issue

Prevention and Rehabilitation

Publisher

Elsevier

Location

Oxford, Eng.

ISSN

1360-8592

Language

eng

Notes

Trial Registration This clinical trial has been registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry 2016 (ACTRN12616000809437).

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2020, Crown Copyright