Clinical Pilates' Impact on Fitness, Symptoms & Kinesiophobia in PMS

Summary

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is characterized by a series of somatic and psychological symptoms of varying severity that occur during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, affecting approximately 30% of women and resolving with menstruation. These symptoms impact daily activities, interpersonal relationships, social engagements, work efficiency, and educational productivity. PMS manifests with physical symptoms such as breast swelling and tenderness, fatigue, headaches, and weight gain, as well as psychological and emotional symptoms such as mood disorders, irritability, and stress. Symptoms typically subside with the onset of menstruation. There is no single accepted treatment for PMS. Due to conflicting findings in studies, various treatment methods are used, including lifestyle modifications, education, stress management techniques (such as massage, reflexology, and yoga), exercise, or medical support. Regular exercise is known to improve overall well-being. It prevents the decrease in endorphin secretion during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and has a positive impact on PMS symptoms, particularly mood disorders, fluid retention, and breast tenderness. Pilates-based exercise training is an approach that enhances muscle stability through effective, controlled movements while strengthening muscle groups associated with pain. Clinical Pilates-based exercise training is considered a preferable method for PMS management, as it is believed to improve functional capacity, pain management, mood disorders, endurance, flexibility, symptom severity, and fear of movement in individuals with PMS. Due to the limited number of studies in the literature on PMS, our study aims to investigate the effects of a clinical Pilates-based exercise program on functional fitness parameters, symptom severity, and kinesiophobia.

Conditions

• Premenstrual Syndrome
• Pilates Exercise

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Recommendations for Enhancing General Well-Being

* Wear comfortable clothing and lie on your back. Place one hand on your abdomen. As you inhale through your nose, direct your breath towards your hand, and exhale through your mouth. * In the same position, place one hand on your abdomen, inhale through your nose, and expand your belly under your hand. As you exhale through your mouth, purse your lips and blow out the air from your lungs. * Engage in brisk walking at least three times a week. * Perform stretching exercises similar to yoga; try forward bends while standing and sitting. * Stay active throughout the month; you can dance, swim, or ride a bike. * Reduce your intake of tea and caffeine. * Increase your consumption of milk. * Drink plenty of water. * Reduce your intake of sugar-rich snacks such as chocolate. * Prioritize foods rich in calcium, as well as vitamins A, B, and E.

OTHER

Clinical Pilates

In addition to the general well-being recommendations, the Clinical Pilates Group participated in a total of 16 face-to-face, clinically based Pilates exercise training sessions over eight weeks, with two sessions per week, each lasting 50 minutes. The exercise training started at the end of the menstrual cycle. The clinical Pilates-based exercise program applied to the group was designed by the researcher. The number of repetitions, levels, and variations of the exercises were progressively adjusted by the researcher according to the participants' conditions. During the first session, the principles of clinical Pilates were explained, following the BASI Pilates method as described by Isacowitz. Participants were taught alignment, breathing, and core engagement techniques.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Atlas University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Meltem Kaya · Atlas University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

40 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-03-04

Primary Completion

2024-12-30

Completion

2025-02-01

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations