ArticleBMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation2025
Pilates exercise in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Article in BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Pilates during pregnancy for maternal musculoskeletal pain and discomfort: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ open · 2026Pooled it
- The effects of different types of prenatal exercise on neonatal outcomes: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Pooled it
- Effect of continued prenatal Pilates until childbirth on postpartum ligamentous recovery: a longitudinal follow-up of a randomized controlled trial.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2026Trial
- Effectiveness of a prenatal pilates program on ligamentous laxity and joint hypermobility in pregnant women: a dual-center randomized controlled trial.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Trial
- Reimagining prenatal physical activity and exercise as potential therapeutic strategy in promoting maternal health.Pakistan journal of medical sciences · 2026Article
- Effect of Pilates on sleep quality, eating disorders and occupational balance in pregnant women.Archives of gynecology and obstetrics · 2025Observational
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundPilates is widely acknowledged as an effective exercise for enhancing physical, psychological, and motor functions. However, there remains ongoing debate regarding the effects of Pilates on pregnancy outcomes. Thus, the objective of this systematic review was to evaluate and critically analyze the existing scientific evidence regarding the effects of Pilates on pregnant women.
methodsA thorough search was performed across 7 databases, focusing on articles published up to June 2024. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Cochrane RoB Tool, and STATA 17.0 software was utilized to perform tests for heterogeneity, publication bias, and sensitivity analysis.
results(1) A total of 11 studies were included in this review, comprising 538 participants. Among these, 3 studies exhibited a low risk of bias, while 8 studies presented an unclear risk of bias. (2) The meta-analysis results indicated that Pilates exercise resulted in non-significant changes in the Body Mass Index (BMI) of pregnant women (SMD 0.02; 95% CI, -0.27 to 0.31; P = 0.887), the body weight of pregnant women (SMD 0.25; 95% CI, -0.52 to 1.02; P = 0.519), the mode of delivery (RR 1.41; 95% CI, 0.95 to 2.09; P = 0.093), and the Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels of pregnant women (SMD - 1.182; 95% CI, -2.443 to 0.079; P = 0.066). However, Pilates exercise during pregnancy was associated with significant improvements in APGAR scores at 1 min (SMD 0.41; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.74; P = 0.015), a reduction in the duration of labor (SMD - 0.557; 95% CI, -0.915 to -0.198; P = 0.002), and a decrease in the Visual Analogue Score (VAS) score (SMD - 0.76; 95% CI, -1.45 to -0.07; P = 0.032). (3) Sensitivity analysis revealed no significant differences in effect size before and after the removal of any individual study, indicating that the meta-analysis results were stable.
conclusionsThis systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrate that Pilates during pregnancy positively influences the shortening of labor duration, improves the newborn's immediate physiological status, and alleviates labor pain.
trial registrationThe study was registered on the International Prospective Registry of Systematic Reviews--PROSPERO database (CRD42023393309) on January 30, 2023.
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Registered trials
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