Zhang Jie, Zhao Yanan, Wang Qianwen
College of Physical Education, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, China.
School of Sports Science and Physical Education, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
PLoS One. 2025 Aug 20;20(8):e0330874. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0330874. eCollection 2025.
This study aimed to explore the effects of Pilates combined with breathing exercise on lung function, body posture, and postural stability among female university students.
A total of 66 females (mean age 19 years) with poor body posture were recruited from a local university and randomly divided into three groups, Pilates combined with breathing exercise group (PRT), Pilates only group (PLT), and control group (CON). Exercise interventions were conducted three times per week, 60 min per session, and lasted 16 weeks (8 weeks of group training + 8 weeks of self-training). Lung function and respiratory muscle performance, as the primary outcomes were measured using the Lung Function Tester. Secondary outcomes were standing posture and static postural stability.
Significant group differences were found at post-test in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) (F(2, 50) = 3.63, p = 0.034, pη2 = 0.13) and Minute Ventilation (MV) (F(2, 50) = 3.52, p = 0.04, pη2 = 0.123), where the PRT group showed more improvements than the PLT group especially in FVC (mean difference = 0.43, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the PRT group showed significant improvements at post-test in Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second as a percentage of Forced Vital Capacity (FEV1%) (F(2, 42) = 10.2, p < 0.01, pη2 = 0.327), Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) (F(2, 42) = 5.62, p = 0.01, pη2 = 0.211) and Tidal Volume (TV) (F(2, 42) = 8.38, p < 0.001, pη2 = 0.285). Additionally, it improved body posture and static postural stability, with notable gains in certain stability measures under both eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions (p < 0.05).
Combining breathing exercises with Pilates can improve lung function, body posture, and postural stability in female college students, and a longer training duration (> 16 weeks) appears beneficial for achieving optimal outcomes. These findings suggest a potential association between lung function and postural stability mediated by respiratory muscle function, which warrants further investigation.
本研究旨在探讨普拉提结合呼吸练习对女大学生肺功能、身体姿势和姿势稳定性的影响。
从当地一所大学招募了66名身体姿势不良的女性（平均年龄19岁），并随机分为三组：普拉提结合呼吸练习组（PRT）、单纯普拉提组（PLT）和对照组（CON）。运动干预每周进行3次，每次60分钟，持续16周（8周的团体训练+8周的自我训练）。使用肺功能测试仪测量肺功能和呼吸肌性能作为主要指标。次要指标为站立姿势和静态姿势稳定性。
在测试后发现，用力肺活量（FVC）（F(2, 50) = 3.63，p = 0.034，pη2 = 0.13）和分钟通气量（MV）（F(2, 50) = 3.52，p = 0.04，pη2 = 0.123）存在显著的组间差异，其中PRT组比PLT组有更多改善，尤其是在FVC方面（平均差异 = 0.43，p < 0.05）。此外，PRT组在测试后1秒用力呼气量占用力肺活量的百分比（FEV1%）（F(2, 42) = 10.2，p < 0.01，pη2 = 0.327）、呼气峰值流速（PEFR）（F(2, 42) = 5.62，p = 0.01，pη2 = 0.211）和潮气量（TV）（F(2, 42) = 8.38，p < 0.001，pη2 = 0.285）方面有显著改善。此外，它还改善了身体姿势和静态姿势稳定性，在睁眼和闭眼条件下的某些稳定性指标上有显著提高（p < 0.05）。
将呼吸练习与普拉提相结合可以改善女大学生的肺功能、身体姿势和姿势稳定性，更长的训练时间（> 16周）似乎有利于取得最佳效果。这些发现表明肺功能与姿势稳定性之间可能存在由呼吸肌功能介导的关联，值得进一步研究。
