The Effects of Pilates-based Exercises on the Posterior Leg Muscles

NCT07146724 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 1 other identifier: 2025/187
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled study aims to investigate the effects of a pilates-based exercise program on hamstring flexibility, plantar pressure sensation, and dynamic balance in university students aged 18 to 24 years. Participants diagnosed with hamstring tightness through the Sit and Reach test will be randomly assigned to an exercise group and a control group. The intervention group will undergo an 8-week pilates-based home and supervised exercise program. Outcomes will be evaluated before and after the intervention using Sit and Reach, monofilament sensory testing, and the Y Balance Test. The study seeks to identify whether a non-invasive physical activity like pilates can improve neuromuscular and sensory parameters in young adults.

Conditions

Exercise Therapy

Keywords

Pilates, Exercise Therapy, Randomized Controlled Trial

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Hamstring Flexibility

  Hamstring flexibility will be measured using the Sit and Reach Test. Participants will perform the test at baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention period.

  8 weeks

Study Arms (2)

ınterventıon arm

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Pilates-Based Exercise Group

Other: Exercise

control arm

NO INTERVENTION

Control Group (No Exercise Intervention)

Interventions

Exercise OTHER

The intervention consists of a pilates-based exercise program specifically designed to target hamstring flexibility, plantar pressure sensitivity, and dynamic balance. Unlike general fitness-oriented pilates, this program includes a combination of mat-based and functional pilates movements adapted to improve posterior chain flexibility and sensory feedback in the lower extremities. The protocol includes 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks - 1 session conducted face-to-face under physiotherapist supervision and 2 sessions as a monitored home exercise. Exercise progression is standardized, and all sessions follow a validated physiotherapy protocol tailored for university-aged individuals with clinically measured hamstring shortening.

ınterventıon arm

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Enrolled students at Yalova University
• Diagnosed with hamstring shortening (measured via Sit and Reach Test)
• Willing to participate voluntarily and provide informed consent
• Not currently participating in any regular exercise program -

You may not qualify if:

• History of orthopedic surgery in the lower extremities in the past 6 months
• Neurological or musculoskeletal diseases affecting mobility
• Having systemic chronic disease (e.g., diabetes, MS)
• Currently under physiotherapy or similar treatment
• Unwilling or unable to follow the 8-week intervention schedule

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Yalova: lead

Study Sites (1)

Yalova University faculty of health science department of physiotherapy and rehabilitation

Yalova, Yalova, 77200, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Exercise

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 20, 2025
• First Posted: August 28, 2025
• Study Start: June 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: August 30, 2025
• Study Completion: September 20, 2025
• Last Updated: August 28, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)