The influence of physical self-perception of female college students participating in Pilates classes on perceived health state and psychological wellbeing

The Mediating Role of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in the Association between a Negative Lifestyle and Poor Mental Health in Chilean Schoolchildren

BACKGROUND

A negative lifestyle has a reported relationship with psychological problems and deteriorated well-being. However, there is little information regarding the mediating role of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in this relationship.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the present study are twofold: first, to investigate the association between negative lifestyle, physical self-concept (PSC), and depression, and second, to assess the potential mediating role of CRF in this complex relationship.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 612 schoolchildren aged between 9 and 14 years from the Araucanía region (southern Chile). CRF was measured using the Leger test, and lifestyle, depression, and PSC were measured using validated questionnaires.

RESULTS

A negative lifestyle reported an inverse association with PSC (p < 0.001) and a positive association with depression levels (p < 0.001). The mediation analysis showed that CRF was positively related to PSC (p < 0.001) and inversely related to depression (p = 0.001); besides, the indirect effect CRF acted as a partial mediator in the association between a negative lifestyle and PSC (indirect effect = -1.15; SE = 0.01; 95% CI, -1.87, -0.55) and depression levels (indirect effect = 0.22; SE = 0.08; 95% CI, 0.08, 0.38).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, CRF in schoolchildren played a potential mediating role in the association between a negative lifestyle and depression and PSC.

The effect of sociodemographic characteristics, academic factors, and individual health behaviors on psychological well-being among college students

Objective: This study aimed to measure the potential relationships between sociodemographic characteristics, academic factors, body mass index (BMI), financial challenges, individual health behaviors, impact of COVID-19, and psychological well-being (PWB) among students. Participants: Undergraduate college students. Methods: Data from the National College Health Assessment III (American College Health Association [ACHA]) were used (n = 1,439). Differences in absolute values among PWB groups were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). To measure the influence of all factors combined on PWB, multiple regression analyses were performed. Results: Significant differences were observed in age, GPA, financial challenges, and individual health behaviors by PWB groups (p < .05). Being older, being female, having a higher GPA, being a full-time student, having a higher intake of vegetables, taking less time to fall asleep, and having lower stress levels were significantly positively associated with higher PWB scores (p < .05). Conclusions: Multiple considerations related to the academic environment and individual behaviors seem to influence PWB among college students.

Impact of Activity Tracker Usage in Combination with a Physical Activity Intervention on Physical and Cognitive Parameters in Healthy Adults Aged 60+: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Regular physical activity (PA) is of central importance for healthy aging and has a well-known impact on helping older adults maintain their cognitive and physical health. Thus, we aimed to compare the effectiveness of two physical activity interventions primarily conducted at home (print-based or web-based vs. web-based plus the use of an activity tracker) on cognitive and physical health parameters in older adults. Data of participants (n = 551, 60–80 years) were analyzed after being randomly allocated to a waitlist control group (CG), a web-based or print-based intervention group (IG) or a web-based intervention group that also included the use of an activity tracker (AG). Measured parameters were grip strength, endurance (two-minute step test), gait speed (four-meter walk test), cognition (Simon task; balanced integration score (BIS), reaction time and accuracy) and physical self-concept (Physical Self-Description Questionnaire (PSDQ)). We found the highest effect sizes in all measured dimensions for AG (grip strength, endurance, gait speed, reaction time, physical self-concept), followed by IG (endurance, gait speed, reaction time, physical self-concept) and CG (endurance, gait speed, BIS). Findings suggest that a combined web-based and activity tracker intervention may improve physical functions, physical self-concept, and cognition in community-dwelling older adults.

The Effect of Changes in Physical Self-Concept through Participation in Exercise on Changes in Self-Esteem and Mental Well-Being

The aim of the present study was to examine the impact of the changes in physical self-concept induced by exercise participation on the changes in global self-esteem and mental well-being using a structural model analysis. A total of 189 university students in Seoul, Korea, participated in the present study for two waves. The participants responded through a survey measuring physical self-concept, self-esteem, and mental well-being before and after a six-week exercise course. Regression analysis was used to calculate the amount of change in each variable, and the calculated residual scores were used for correlation analysis and structural model analysis. The amounts of changes in the variables are significantly correlated with each other and there was a complementary mediating effect of the changes in self-esteem on the pathway from the changes in physical self-concept to the changes in mental well-being. Physical self-concept changed by exercise participation might directly and positively influence mental well-being, and it can indirectly influence the changes in mental well-being via the improvement of self-esteem.

The Impacts of Pilates and Yoga on Health-Promoting Behaviors and Subjective Health Status

This study investigates whether Pilates and yoga lead people to adopt generally health-promoting lifestyle elements and feel better about their physical and mental fitness. To this end, we designed an 8 week exercise program of Pilates and yoga reviewed by veteran practitioners and conducted an experimental study through which we collected the data from 90 volunteered adult subjects between ages 30 and 49 (mean age = 35.47), equally represented by women and men without previous experience with Pilates or yoga. In the 8 week long experiment, we assigned the subjects to three groups, where subjects in the two exercise groups regularly took part in either Pilates or yoga classes, and the control group participated in neither exercise classes. All participants completed two surveys, the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP II) and the Health Self-Rating Scale (HSRS), before and after their assigned program. In our analysis of pre- and post-treatment differences across the three groups, we ran ANOVA, ANCOVA, and Sheffé test, implemented using SPSS PASW Statistics 18.00. Our results indicate that Pilates and yoga groups exhibited a higher engagement in health-promoting behaviors than the control group after the program. Subjective health status, measured with HSRS, also improved significantly among Pilates and yoga participants compared to those in the control group after the program. The supplementary analysis finds no significant gender-based difference in these impacts. Overall, our results confirm that Pilates and yoga help recruit health-promoting behaviors in participants and engender positive beliefs about their subjective health status, thereby setting a positive reinforcement cycle in motion. By providing clear evidence that the promotion of Pilates or yoga can serve as an effective intervention strategy that helps individuals change behaviors adverse to their health, this study offers practical implications for healthcare professionals and public health officials alike.

A qualitative systematic review of the views, experiences and perceptions of Pilates-trained physiotherapists and their patients

OBJECTIVES

A review of qualitative studies exploring Pilates-trained physiotherapists and their patients' perspectives and experiences of Pilates, aiming to improve practice and provide a deeper insight into the way this method is being utilized along with its effects on participants.

DESIGN

Qualitative evidence synthesis using meta-ethnography.

DATA SOURCES

A comprehensive search strategy, limited to English language articles, was conducted to MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, CINAHL, PEDro and Cochrane Central for the period of January 2000 (inception) to June 2020. This was supplemented by identification of Grey literature through Google Scholar, website searching and reference lists.

STUDY SELECTION

Qualitative studies reporting experiences and perceptions of patients' or Pilates-trained physiotherapists' regarding the efficacy of Pilates for the management of chronic musculoskeletal conditions. After a process of exclusion, eight studies were included in the synthesis.

DATA EXTRACTION

The textual data were analysed by a qualitative software program. Studies were critically appraised independently by two reviewers.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Articles were synthesized using a technique of meta-ethnography. Three themes emerged from the process of reciprocal translation: (1) Benefits of the Pilates approach; (2) most effective ways to utilize and most beneficial parameters and (3) risks, precautions, contraindications and indications.

CONCLUSION

This is the first qualitative evidence synthesis of practitioners' and patients' perspectives of Pilates. Findings support evidence for the various benefits of this approach and provide fresh insight into the way this method can be practiced to maximize efficiency and focus on the patients' needs.

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

Pilates-trained physiotherapists identified that Pilates can be tailored to individual requirements, preferences and needs, to promote self-management to facilitate clinical and cost-effective care.

Higher Impulse Electromyostimulation Contributes to Psychological Satisfaction and Physical Development in Healthy Men

Background and Objectives: This study investigated the various impulse effects of whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) on psychophysiological responses and adaptations. Materials and Methods: The participants included fifty-four men between 20 and 27 years of age who practiced isometric exercises for 20 min, three days a week, for 12 weeks while wearing WB-EMS suits, which enabled the simultaneous activation of eight muscle groups with three types of impulse intensities. Participants were allocated to one of four groups: control group (CON), low-impulse-intensity group (LIG), mid-impulse-intensity group (MIG), and high-impulse-intensity group (HIG). Psychophysiological conditions were measured at week 0, week 4, week 8, and week 12. Results: Compared with the CON, (1) three psychological conditions in LIG, MIG, and HIG showed positive tendencies every four weeks, and the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) test revealed that body image (p = 0.004), body shape (p = 0.007), and self-esteem (p = 0.001) were significantly different among the groups. (2) Body weight, fat mass, body mass index, and percent fat in the CON showed decreasing tendencies, whereas those in LIG, MIG, and HIG showed a noticeable decrease, which revealed that there were significant differences among the groups. Specifically, a higher impulse intensity resulted in a greater increase in muscle mass. (3) Although there was no interaction effect in the abdominal visceral fat area, there were significant interactions in the abdominal subcutaneous fat (ASF) and total fat (ATF) areas. Both the ASF and ATF in the CON showed decreasing tendencies, whereas those in other groups showed a noticeable decrease. The ANCOVA revealed that the ASF (p = 0.002) and ATF (p = 0.001) were significantly different among the groups. In particular, the higher the impulse intensity, the greater the decrease in abdominal fat. Conclusions: This study confirmed that high-impulse-intensity EMS can improve psychophysiological conditions. In other words, healthy young adults felt that the extent to which their body image, body shape, and self-esteem improved depended on how intense their EMS impulse intensities were. The results also showed that higher levels of impulse intensity led to improved physical conditions.

Pilates for rehabilitation in patients with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review of effects on cognition, health-related physical fitness, general symptoms and quality of life

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this systematic review is to analyze the effectiveness of Pilates intervention programs on cognitive function, health-related physical fitness, general symptoms, physical function, quality of life, and the impact Pilates can have on activities of daily living in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. This review also aims to provide a synthesis of the most commonly used protocols regarding exercise parameters, such as periodicity and treatment duration.

DATA SOURCES

Systematic review of the literature was carried out following the PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO no. CRD42017070004). A literature search was undertaken for studies that investigated the effects of Pilates training on MS patients, using databases included PubMed, Medline, Scopus and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) up to May 2018.

STUDY SELECTION

Three researchers independently reviewed the titles and abstract of each article to screen the papers in relation to the inclusion criteria.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data were extracted by three researchers independently. The eligible articles were read in full and their levels of evidence were evaluated using the PEDro scale.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Forty-two papers were found during the research phase. Duplicated (n = 23) or incomplete articles (n = 1) were excluded. Studies were also eliminated from the sample based on methodological approach (study design) quality assessment (n = 6). Twelve studies were ultimately selected and analyzed.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of the studies analyzed showed positive results after Pilates training intervention and concluded that Pilates intervention is safe and effective for the treatment of dysfunction of balance, strength, quality of life, cognition, physical performance, walking and posture parameters on MS patients. The articles investigated in this review provide a scientific basis to support Pilates as an option for rehabilitation programs for MS patients.

Perceived Well-Being, Social Support, and Self-Management Behavior among Women Experiencing Chemotherapy-Related Nausea and Vomiting in A Tertiary Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan

OBJECTIVE

The basic objective is to determine the level of the self-management behaviors (SMB), perceived well-being, and social support of patients in the outpatient settings at tertiary care hospital at Lahore Pakistan. It also explores if there is any significant relationship among all three variables.

METHODS

A descriptive-correlational study design has been used. The data have been collected at single setting of 32-bedded chemotherapy unit of a tertiary care hospital of Pakistan. The purposive sampling method has been employed. The IBM SPSS version 20 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) has been utilized for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 317 patients' data were analyzed. The average age of patients was 42 years, and they received chemotherapy for different cancers. It was revealed that the SMB, for example, taking anti-emetics on time, and applying physical and cognitive distractions, have strong association with psychological, social, physical, and emotional dimensions of the perceived well-being. Similar self-managing strategies have associations with the provision of social support from the health-care team, personal, and family side.

CONCLUSIONS

To conclude, the most common self-care methods of women receiving chemo are pharmacological management, applying physical and cognitive distraction, executing relaxation measures to control chemo-induced nausea.

Psychopathology, Body Image and Quality of Life in Female Children and Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa: A Pilot Study on the Acceptability of a Pilates Program

Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric illness that without early effective treatment becomes chronic with high physical, psychological and social morbidity and high mortality. Pilates exercises can improve quality of life and increase body awareness in different clinical and healthy populations. The aim of this pilot study was to examine the acceptability of a Pilates program in a sample of female children and adolescents with AN by evaluating the psychopathological status, alterations in the perception of body image and health-related quality of life after 10 weeks. Methods: A total of 12 female patients (age: 14.6 ± 1.7 years) completed the 10-week Pilates program. Psychopathology (EDI-3), body image disturbance (CDRS) and quality of life (KIDSCREEN-27) were evaluated before and after the intervention. A satisfaction questionnaire was also provided. Results: Regarding psychopathology, although there were standardized reductions in seven parameters of those that form EDI-3, none of them reached significance. In relation to body image, significant, moderately standardized and substantial decreases were observed in the body dissatisfaction (p = 0.046, Cohen's d = -0.69). There were significant, large standardized and substantial increases in physical well-being (p = 0.008, Cohen's d = 1.37) and significant, moderately standardized and substantial decreases in autonomy and parent relation (p = 0.021, Cohen's d = -0.60). Satisfaction data was positive. Conclusion: A Pilates program could help to improve perceived health outcomes by decreasing body dissatisfaction and increasing physical well-being in female children and adolescents with AN, so Pilates seems to be a beneficial complementary treatment in children and adolescents with AN. These findings from our pilot study are encouraging for future research with a substantially larger sample size, representing the first phase of a longer process.

The influence of Pilates participants' empirical values on their emotional responses and behavioral intentions

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the empirical value of Pilates participants and their emotional response and behavioral intention. For this study, 286 participants who participated in Pilates classes in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do in 2019 were selected using the convenience sampling method. For data processing, frequency, exploratory factor, reliability, correlation, and multiple regression analyses were performed using PASW ver. 23.0. The empirical values of the Pilates participants had a significant effect on their emotional response and behavioral intention. The emotional responses of the Pilates participants also had a significant effect on their behavioral intention. In summary, Pilates instructors, therefore, try to help the participants form positive experiences and emotional responses to induce participants’ continuous participation.

The relationships among Pilates instructors' emotional labor, job burnout, and occupational identity

This study aimed to investigate the relationships among the emotional labor, job burnout, and occupational identity of Pilates instructors. Instructors conducting Pilates classes in the Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon areas were selected as the study population to achieve the aforementioned goal, and a total of 195 datasets were utilized for the actual analysis, using the convenience sampling method. The analysis methods that were employed for the study include frequency analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability verification, correlation analysis, and structural equation model analysis, and the following conclusions were obtained in the process: (a) the internal behaviors of the Pilates instructors’ emotional labor had a negative effect on the instructors’ job burnout; (b) the surface behaviors of the Pilates instructors’ emotional labor had a positive effect on the instructors’ job burnout; (c) the job burnout of the Pilates instructors had a negative effect on their occupational identity; (d) the internal behaviors of the Pilates instructors’ emotional labor had a positive effect on the instructors’ occupational identity; and (e) the surface behaviors of the Pilates instructors’ emotional labor had a negative effect on the instructors’ occupational identity.