Aqua Pilates versus Land Pilates: Physical Fitness Outcomes

IntroductionThe beneficial effect of aquatic exercise in rehabilitation is known since the time of Hippocrates (460375 b.Ch.). Ancient Greeks alternately used hot and cold water for the treatment of various diseases. Later, the Romans also widely used the water for refreshing and therapeutic purposes, having also devised four different types of baths with various temperatures (Duffield, M. H., 1973). Nowadays, hydrotherapy is considered as one of the safest methods for rehabilitation of patients for muscle relaxation, decrement of spasticity and significant reductions of sensitivity to pain and is applied without physical effort and therapeutic water temperatures between 33° and 35° C. However, aquatic exercise involves the active participation of the participants based on the principles and benefits of physical fitness for overall health improvement and is performed in cooler water temperatures of less than 28° C, to counterbalance the increased heat production induced by exercise (Holmer, I., 1979; McArdle, W.E. et al., 1976). Many aquatic programs nowadays are offered at variable temperature pool centers and provide both the aquatic exercise benefits and the healing benefits of warm waters. Individuals drawn to aquatic exercise are usually ones suffering from muscoloskeletal problems and different types of arthritis or fibromyalgia pain since the effects of byoancy and hydrostatic pressure minimize the load and impact on the muscle-skeletal system but also exercise provides all the cardiovascular and overall fitness benefits. Aquatic exercise programs attempt to apply all the different modalities that are applied on land for their specific benefits. Pilates on land, both on the mat and the reformer equipment has over the past decades gained great recognition and has become a very well accepted and preferable form of exercise for people of all ages, with all types of ailments as the exercise routines are well received by all, and physical fitness benefits are acquired without any type of injuries.In recent years, aqua pilates programs are also becoming popular. However, limited research studies focus on the differences in benefits between these two forms. Land pilates exercise programs have been shown to significantly improve flexibility, balance and muscle strength of participants. There is also a general agreement that pilates stabilizes the spine by increasing torso strength, resulting in better postural alignment and movement. Thus, the human skeletal system functions in coordinated and more efficient ways. At the same time, Pilates exercise contributes in improving both physical fitness and body composition (Lange, C. et al., 2000; Bernardo, L., 2007). Regular Pilates exercise enhances the quality of one's life, by providing physical and mental balance. Pilates exercises function correctively and contribute to the avoidance of potential injuries or weaknesses. Simultaneously it functions as a means of rehabilitation for minor injuries, because it is designed to strengthen the musculoskeletal system. In summary, the overall benefits of Pilates are documented to be, physical fitness improvements, proper body alignment, the enhancement of muscle strength, balance improvements, increases in flexibility, and rehabilitation of patients with back problems (Lange, C. et al., 2000). Herrington and Davies (2005), conducted a comparative study in order to determine the muscle contraction strength of the transverse abdominal muscles, between healthy women exercising with the Mat Pilates method and women who followed a traditional abdominal strengthening program including. The results showed that women who exercised with the Pilates method were able to exploit the deeper abdominal muscles (to a percentage reaching 83% of the participants), exhibiting greater stability of the pelvic region in relation to those exercised by the traditional method of abdominal curls (42% of participants). Regarding pelvic stability, participants of the two control groups (exercise in the classic way and non-exercise controls) completely failed to pass the test. …