Effects of short-term Pilates exercise on selected blood parameters

Abstract

The aim of our prospective, interventional, pre-post, single arm study was to supplement the lack of knowledge of the effect of short-term Pilates intervention on selected blood parameters of healthy women. Female volunteers were recruited for 2-weeks Pilates intervention. Blood has been collected and anthropometric parameters were measured before and after exercise period (EP). Plasma insulin, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels, erythrocyte antioxidant activity, glutathione levels, NK cytotoxicity and plasma cytokines were analysed. We found a decrease in erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes SOD and GPx activity; GSH levels; in the pro-inflammatory chemokine MCP-1 and trend to reduction in MIP-1β, PDGF and VEGF levels in plasma. NK cell cytotoxic activity increased after Pilates EP in the percentage of specific lysis at 25:1 effector: target (E:T) ratio and the same trend was observed at all E:T ratios as well as in the amount of lytic units per 107 cells. Our findings show that Pilates exercise may improve NK cell immune response and inflammatory milieu in plasma of healthy women.

Women’s Lives Matter—The Critical Need for Women to Prioritize Optimal Physical Activity to Reduce COVID-19 Illness Risk and Severity

“…There is a strong association between the type of PA and benefits to the immune system. PA, such as Pilates training performed for 180 min per week, during two weeks of acute PA, improves the innate immune response in adult women, as detected by increased NK cell lytic activity and decreased monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) [ 96 , 97 ]. Bicycle ergometry performed for six minutes at 55% of VO 2 max or for 30 min at 11.11 km/h increases the number of leukocytes (by ~36%), granulocytes (by ~29%), lymphocytes (by ~46%), and monocytes (by ~68%) in circulating blood [ 78 , 80 ].…”

Effects of eight weeks of mat pilates training on selected hematological parameters and plasma volume variations in healthy active women

“…It has been demonstrated that PT has a beneficial impact on adipokine levels in overweight women when used for 12 weeks, three days per week for 60 minutes [ 13 ] , as well as serum levels of certain inflammatory markers such as C reactive protein in sedentary women with overweight [ 14 ] . Researchers have also shown that PT is a suggested physical activity to promote health and boost the immune system [ 15 , 16 ] . Gronesova et al [ 16 ] reported that 40 weeks were effective in improving natural killer immune cells response and inflammatory milieu in plasma of healthy women [ 16 ] .…”

The Impact of the Characteristics of Exercise on The Risk of Breast Cancer Instructions

“…This protection is likely mediated through weight control and hormonal influences such as impairing serum insulin levels ( 3 ) and estrogens. When exercising, metabolism increases ( 4 ), the cardiovascular function accelerates ( 5 ), and blood parameters ( 6 ) seem to be affected. The endocrine system seems to play an important role in those changes ( 7 ).…”