Comparison of the Effect of Pilates and Traditional Corrective Exercises on Lumbar Lordosis in Female Students

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of Pilates and traditional corrective exercises on lumbar lordosis.
Statistical population of the present study was nonathletic female students of Farhangian University in Khoy. Thirty subjects (19-24 years old) with lumbar lordosis were selected and divided into two experimental (Pilates, traditional corrective) and control groups. Experimental groups performed related exercises for 3 weeks, 3 days in a week with duration of 60 min each day. Flexible ruler, Thomas test, leaning forward, squat test and sit-up test was used respectively for measuring lordosis degree, flexibility of quadriceps muscles, flexibility of back muscles, power of hamstring and power of abdominal muscles before and after six weeks training. To compare pre-test and post-test of dependent variables, paired t-test was used. One way ANOVA and Bonferoni test was used to compare three groups.
Results showed that in both experimental groups lumbar lordosis was decreased (in both groups p=0.001) and flexibility of quadriceps (traditional corrective group p=0.001; Pilates group p=0.003), flexibility of back muscles (in both groups p=0.001), power of hamstring (in both groups p=0.001) and power of abdominal muscles (in both groups p=0.001) was improved. There was no significant difference between two experimental groups for lumbar lordosis (p=1.000), flexibility of quadriceps(p=0.856), flexibility of back muscles (p=0.786), power of hamstring muscles (p=1.000) and power of abdominal muscles (p=0.579).
Therefore for treating lumbar lordosis both Pilates and traditional corrective exercises can be used. Both training methods may treat hyperlordosis with increase in flexibility of back muscles and quadriceps muscles and with increase in power of hamstring and power of abdominal muscles.