NCT07642245

Brief Summary

After childbirth, many women experience difficulty losing pregnancy-related weight, which can affect their health, self-esteem, and physical activity. Regular exercise, including Pilates and moderate-intensity aerobic exercises, is considered a safe and natural method to improve fitness and support weight loss during the postpartum period. This study aims to compare the effects of Pilates and aerobic exercise on body weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), and waist-to-hip ratio in postpartum women over 8 weeks. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a Pilates group or an aerobic exercise group, with both groups exercising three times weekly for 45-60 minutes. The results will then be compared to determine which exercise method is more effective.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
30

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for not_applicable

Timeline
4mo left

Started Apr 2025

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress78%
Apr 2025Oct 2026

Study Start

First participant enrolled

April 2, 2025

Completed
1.2 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

June 8, 2026

Completed
3 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

June 11, 2026

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

September 2, 2026

Expected
1 month until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

October 15, 2026

Last Updated

June 11, 2026

Status Verified

June 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

1.4 years

First QC Date

June 8, 2026

Last Update Submit

June 8, 2026

Conditions

Postpartum Period

Keywords

Aerobic ExerciserBody Mass IndexExercise TherapyPilates

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

  • Weight (kilograms) - measured using a calibrated weighing scale

    Measured with a calibrated digital weighing scale. Participants will be weighed barefoot, wearing light clothing, after emptying their bladder. Reliable if calibrated regularly and used under standardized conditions (same scale, same time of day, light clothing, after voiding). Test-retest reliability \> 0.97. Highly valid for measuring body weight; directly measures mass in kilogram. The scale's accuracy is typically within 0.1 kg.

    8 weeks

  • Body Mass Index (BMI)

    Calculated by dividing weight (kg) by the square of height (m) (BMI = weight/height²). Height will be measured once at baseline with a stadiometer. Reliable when the procedure is standardized (barefoot, standing straight, head in Frankfort plane). Intra-observer reliability \> 0.95. Valid anthropometric tool; stadiometers accurately reflect true stature when calibrated.

    8 weeks

  • Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR)

    Calculated by dividing Waist by Hip (WHR = Waist cm / Hip cm). Reliable if both waist and hip are measured accurately with the same procedure. WHR is a well validated indicator of body-fat distribution and health-risk; a higher WHR is strongly associated with metabolic disorders

    8 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Group A - Pilates Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Type of Exercise: Mat-based Pilates focusing on core stability, breathing control, flexibility, and pelvic floor strengthening

Other: Pilates

Group B - Aerobic Exercise Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Moderate intensity aerobic training (e.g., brisk walking, cycling, or low-impact dance routines) Intensity: 50-70% of maximum heart rate (monitored using Rate of Perceived Exertion Scale 11-13 on Borg Scale)

Other: Aerobic Exercise

Interventions

PilatesOTHER

Pilates Group Type of Exercise: Mat-based Pilates focusing on core stability, breathing control, flexibility, and pelvic floor strengthening. Structure: Warm-up (10 mins): Light mobility and breathing exercises; Main Session (30-40 mins): Pelvic tilts, bridging, leg stretches, roll-ups, side-lying series; Focus on posture, controlled movement, and core engagement; Cool-down (5-10 mins): Gentle stretching and relaxation. Progression: Gradual increase in intensity and complexity over 8 weeks. Supervision: Sessions led by a trained physiotherapist or certified Pilates instructor.

Group A - Pilates Group
Aerobic ExerciseOTHER

Aerobic Exercise Group Type of Exercise: Moderate intensity aerobic training (e.g., brisk walking, cycling, or low-impact dance routines). Intensity: 50-70% of maximum heart rate (monitored using Rate of Perceived Exertion Scale 11-13 on Borg Scale). Structure: Warm-up (10 mins): Marching in place, arm circles, step touch; Main Session (30-40 mins): Rhythmic aerobic routines or treadmill walking; Cool-down (5-10 mins): Stretching major muscle groups. Supervision: Sessions conducted under the guidance of a physiotherapist or fitness instructor.

Group B - Aerobic Exercise Group

Eligibility Criteria

Age20 Years - 40 Years
Sexfemale(Gender-based eligibility)
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Women aged 20 to 40 years
  • BMI \> 25kg/m2 at baseline
  • Medically cleared by a health professional to perform physical activity
  • Women 6 to 24 weeks postpartum

You may not qualify if:

  • Women with complications during delivery (Cesarean complications, perineal tears grade 3 or 4)
  • Presence of chronic disorders (diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disorders, severe anemia)
  • Neuromusculoskeletal disorders affecting physical activity
  • Currently participating in another fitness program
  • Postpartum depression or other psychological disorders that may affect adherence

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Ghurki Teaching Hospital

Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000, Pakistan

RECRUITING

Related Publications (3)

  • Seitz D, Hintze A. [Myelomalacia following vertebral angiography with a femoral catheter (author's transl)]. Rofo. 1976 Jul;125(1):59-62. doi: 10.1055/s-0029-1230418. German.

    PMID: 133946BACKGROUND

  • Goldstein J. Biologic and clinical considerations of hepatitis B infection. J Endod. 1979 Feb;5(2):56-9. doi: 10.1016/S0099-2399(79)80108-9. No abstract available.

    PMID: 296244BACKGROUND

  • Drake AF, Dufton MJ, Hider RC. The flexible nature of a critical peptide region common to all Elapidae "short" neurotoxins. FEBS Lett. 1977 Nov 15;83(2):202-6. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(77)81005-3. No abstract available.

    PMID: 590500BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Exercise Movement TechniquesExercise

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Physical Therapy ModalitiesTherapeuticsMotor ActivityMovementMusculoskeletal Physiological PhenomenaMusculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

  • Zainab Nadeem, MS*

    Riphah International University

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Imran Amjad, PHD*

CONTACT

03324390125imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk

Imran Amjad, PHD*

CONTACT

0515481826imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk

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
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

June 8, 2026

First Posted

June 11, 2026

Study Start

April 2, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 2, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

October 15, 2026

Last Updated

June 11, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations

PA(1)