Effects of an Acute Pilates Program under Hypoxic Conditions on Vascular Endothelial Function in Pilates Participants: A Randomized Crossover Trial

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the effects of an acute Pilates program under hypoxic vs. normoxic conditions on the metabolic, cardiac, and vascular functions of the participants. Ten healthy female Pilates experts completed a 50-min tubing Pilates program under normoxic conditions (N trial) and under 3000 m (inspired oxygen fraction = 14.5%) hypobaric hypoxia conditions (H trial) after a 30-min exposure in the respective environments on different days. Blood pressure, branchial ankle pulse wave velocity, and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in the branchial artery were measured before and after the exercise. Metabolic parameters and cardiac function were assessed every minute during the exercise. Both trials showed a significant increase in FMD; however, the increase in FMD was significantly higher after the H trial than that after the N trial. Furthermore, FMD before exercise was significantly higher in the H trial than in the N trial. In terms of metabolic parameters, minute ventilation, carbon dioxide excretion, respiratory exchange ratio, and carbohydrate oxidation were significantly higher but fat oxidation was lower during the H trial than during the N trial. In terms of cardiac function, heart rate was significantly increased during the H trial than during the N trial. Our results suggested that, compared to that under normoxic conditions, Pilates exercise under hypoxic conditions led to greater metabolic and cardiac responses and also elicited an additive effect on vascular endothelial function.

Keywords: Pilates exercise; cardiac function; endothelial function; hypoxia; metabolic parameters.

Figure 1

The flow diagram of the consolidated standards of reporting trial. N trial: Pilates program under normoxic conditions, H trial: Pilates program under hypoxic conditions.

Figure 2

Study design. N trial: Pilates program under normoxic conditions, H trial: Pilates program under hypoxic conditions, FiO₂: inspired oxygen fraction, BP: blood pressure, baPWV: branchial ankle pulse wave velocity, and FMD: flow-mediated dilation.

Figure 3

baPWV and FMD data before and after the Pilates program in the N trial and H trial. (a) Change in baPWV before and after the Pilates program in each trial. (b) Change in FMD before and after the Pilates program in each trial. N trial: Pilates program under normoxic condition, H trial: Pilates program under hypoxic condition, CI: Confidence interval, baPWV: Brachial ankle pulse wave velocity, FMD: Flow-mediated vasodilation. ^# Significant difference between before and after Pilates program, ^# p < 0.05. * Significant difference between the N trial and H trial, * p < 0.05.