Investigation of the Effect of Pilates Exercises on Pregnancy Stress

Year 2024, Volume: 10 Issue: 2, 9 - 16, 18.07.2024

Demet Biçki , Dilan Yaren Kartal

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of pilates exercise during pregnancy on pregnancy stress.
Materials and Methods: 40 pregnant individuals were included in the study. The groups of the study were composed of the study group who volunteered and accepted to do pilates exercise and the control group who did not do pilates. Pilates exercises were applied by a physiotherapist for a total of 16 sessions, 2 sessions per week, for 8 weeks. No application was made to the control group. "Demographic Assessment Form" and "Pregnancy Stress Scale (GSDS)" were used as data collection tools in the study. It was evaluated in two groups before and after the study, and the scores were recorded in the patient files.
Results: As a result of the evaluation, the pregnancy stress of the pregnant women in the pilates group after the study (37.10±1.88) decreased compared to before and in the control group, and this decrease was statistically significant (p<0.05).
Conclusion: This study stated that pilates exercises performed during pregnancy reduce pregnancy stress.

Keywords

Pregnancy, Pilates, Pregnancy Stress, Exercise During Pregnancy, Pilates and Stress

References

• As a result, from the data obtained in this study, we conclude that pilates exercises performed during pregnancy have positive effects on the stress and anxiety disorders experienced by pregnant women and are beneficial for the mental health of pregnant women. Therefore, this shows that pilates exercises can be recommended during pregnancy even for those who do not participate in any exercise program. There is not much research in the literature about stress experienced during pregnancy and alternative solutions. We think that our study will shed light on future studies in this direction. When exercise and pregnancy are evaluated together, a complex situation arises and the subject needs to be examined more comprehensively and in different dimensions.