We learned from an early age that the main function of the respiratory system is to perform gas exchanges, ensuring a good concentration of oxygen in the blood and in return serving as a way of eliminating carbon dioxide.
But, for this very noble function to occur satisfactorily, several mechanisms must work harmoniously for the respiratory system to do its function:
Brain
Marrow
Neuromuscular System
Ribcage
Lungs
Airways
Cardiovascular system
Fabrics
Cells
All of these mechanisms form a kind of “chain”, where the links are closed making this chain strong, and allows us to carry out our daily activities, whether it be taking a shower, practicing a physical exercise or sleeping. However, if one of these links is broken, the chain breaks and our respiratory system will be compromised.
Fortunately I tell you, to strengthen this current, we have a good old friend who can help us with the respiratory system. That’s right, Pilates!
Let’s understand why!
Scientific EvidenceSpiratory-System-7
A recent study by Giacomini et al. Evaluated the effectiveness of the Pilates method on the thickness of the abdominal wall muscles (transverse abdomen, internal oblique, and external oblique), the muscular strength of the respiratory system, and lung function.
Sixteen healthy sedentary women were selected, who performed 8 weeks of Pilates, through 2 weekly sessions, lasting 60 minutes.
As a result, the authors reported hypertrophy of the assessed abdominal muscles and increased inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength, but no significant results were found in relation to lung function.
The authors suggest that the improvement in respiratory muscle strength may have been influenced by the improvement of the mechanical characteristics of the chest and abdominal wall, as well as the recruitment of the diaphragm, along with other respiratory muscles, which contribute to the stabilization of the trunk and provides stimulus for the increase in muscle strength of the muscles of the respiratory system.
They emphasize that during the performance of the Pilates exercises, the volunteers were constantly encouraged to perform an active breathing pattern, through the abdominal emptying maneuver (“pulling” the abdomen towards the spine).
Approximately 200 active respiratory cycles were also performed approximately in each session, which may explain the improvement in muscle function, even without the use of specific training for this musculature.
In the literature, we also find evidence that Pilates favors patients with dysfunctions in the respiratory system, where dyspnea (shortness of breath), fatigue in the lower limbs and exercise intolerance are some of the main complaints of patients with lung diseases.
Franco and colleagues conducted a clinical trial with 19 patients with cystic fibrosis, aged between 7 and 33 years, which after weekly Pilates sessions, for 1 hour, over 16 weeks, the patients showed a significant increase in inspiratory muscle strength and expiratory (in the case of women) and significant increase in expiratory muscle strength (men).
Therefore, if we improve the muscular strength of the respiratory system, these patients will have less exercise intolerance and better quality of life.
linical Case – Improvement of the Respiratory System-Respiratory System-2
I want to share with you, a clinical case of a patient with problems in the respiratory system that I attended in my Pilates office.
A 31-year-old male patient, BMI: 26.4 kg / m2, who had undergone aortic valve replacement surgery 7 months ago. He reported dyspnea on great efforts.
In the physiotherapeutic evaluation, it showed an 18% decrease in inspiratory muscle strength and a 19% decrease in expiratory muscle strength, assessed through manovacuometry, with a maximum inspiratory pressure of -110 cm / H2O (predicted: -130 cm / H2O) and maximum expiratory pressure of 118 cm / H2O (predicted: 140 cm / H2O).
After 4 weeks of Pilates, with 3 weekly sessions lasting 60 minutes, the patient was reevaluated and he showed an increase of 18% (-130 cm / H2O) in the strength of the inspiratory muscles and an increase of 35% ( 160 cm / H2O) in the expiratory muscle strength, reaching and exceeding, respectively, the predicted values according to their age and weight.
In the evaluation carried out previously, he also presented a decrease in chest expansion, where I prescribed and guided him regarding the use of a respiratory flow stimulator.
Therefore, we cannot attribute the increase in inspiratory muscle strength, only to the Pilates method, since the respiratory stimulator may have contributed to this improvement. However, the increase in expiratory muscle strength may be the result of Pilates sessions.
All sessions were performed using a pulse frequency meter to monitor the heart rate, in an attempt to maintain it at the target rate that we previously calculated.
I would like to emphasize that I am reporting only one clinical case, in order to more accurately analyze these data, a clinical trial would be necessary, with a larger number in the sample and a control group.
In conclusion…
The Pilates method seems to promote positive effects on muscular endurance and performance, as well as on the hypertrophy of the abdominal muscles and in individuals with or without weakness of the muscles of the respiratory system and can be used as a potentially useful therapeutic instrument in several populations with pulmonary pathologies.
These variables have been presented as a therapeutic target in several studies and are related to relevant results, such as improved functional capacity and quality of life.