Anthropometric characteristics of healthy women practicing the classic pilates method in the city of Porto Alegre (Brazil)

Abstract

Objective: To describe the anthropometric characteristics of the Classical Pilates Method (CPM) women practitioners in Porto Alegre (Brazil) and to associate the age range and practice time with the adipose mass (AM), muscle mass (MM) and mass index body (BMI) variables.

Method: 48 anthropometric measures were measured (body mass, height, cephalic-trunk height and wingspan, nine skinfolds, 17 perimeters, nine diameters and nine lengths) in 58 healthy women, CPM practitioners for at least six months, mean practice 43 ± 38 months, mean age 37 ± 8 years, mean weekly frequency 2 ± 0.76 times per week. The instruments of data collection were: Lange® adipometer, Cescorf® anthropometric tape and pachymeter 24 and 60 cm. For the weight and height measurements, the Cadence® balance and the Sanny® stadiometer were used. A level II anthropometrist accredited by the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthopometry (ISAK) performed the assessments. The descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data and to verify association between the variables the chi-square test was performed.

Results: The mean value of AM (25.03 ± 4.81 kg) was higher than that of MM (23.14 ± 3.36 kg). However, the BMI classification of the sample majority (79%) is inside of the appropriate range. There was no significant association between any of the variables (p>0.05).

Conclusion: The practice of CPM allows the maintenance of adequate BMI. However, the AM mean greater than MM is worrying, as well as the large number of women who practice only the PM and do not reach the physical activity minimum of minutes weekly to get out of a sedentary lifestyle.