The development of swimming muscles might be further assisted by Pilates exercise at which main goal is focusing on "powerhouse" muscles. We planned; therefore, to investigate the effect of Pilates on respiratory gas and ventilation dynamics as possible indicators of this interaction. Following approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee, 16 competitive swimmer (CS) (in training last 5 years, 100min/5days/wk) and 15 habitual swimmers (HS) were recruited. They were divided into 4 groups: CS who did Pilates training, (CSpil, n=9, 16.5±2.9 years); CS controls, no Pilates (CScon, n=7, 15.5± 1.4 years); HSpil, (n=7; 20.6±2.3 years; and HScon, (n=8, 19.5±1 years). The training was for 8 weeks, as reported by Muscolino & Cipriani (2004) They were asked to perform incremental exercise test (15–25 W/min) to maximum before (bPT) and after Pilates training (aPT). Respiratory functions (Forced vital capacity, FVC; F expiratory volume, FEV1; FEV1/FVC), maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) and ventilation(VEmax) were determined using Vmax Encore system (VIASYS, USA). CSpil group presented significant improvement at VO2max as l/min (bPT: 1.71 ± 0.05; aPT: 2.72± 0.06) and ml/kg/min (bPT: 26.7 ± 5.6, aPT: 44.6±10). VEmax was only significantly improved at CSpil group (bPT 67.2±16.6; aPT 75.5±20 l/min) as well. FVC were significantly different for CSpil, whereas FEV1 for CScon (p<0.05). There was no difference for FEV1/FVC, maximum heart rate and load values amongst groups. It seems that Pilates might contribute to the improvement of respiratory gas and ventilation dynamics as an "adjuvant" agent.

References: 

Muscolino, J., Cipriani, S. 2004. J Bodyw Mov Ther 8, 15–24