In a recent 12-week study (Abstract: PubMed. Article: "The effects of a Pilates training program on arm-trunk posture and movement," Clinical Biomechanics (Bristol, Avon) [2010 Feb;25(2):124-130] researchers sought to determine the effect of a Pilates training program on arm-trunk posture, strength, flexibility and biomechanical patterns. Nineteen subjects (9 in the control group, 10 in the experimental group) were assessed twice, 12 weeks apart, during which the experimental group was submitted to a Pilates training program of two 1-hour sessions a week.
"The assessment consisted of trials of seated posture, abdominal strength, shoulder range of motion, and maximal shoulder flexion, during which neck, shoulder and trunk kinematics and the activity of 16 muscles were recorded." The findings by the researchers suggested that the "Pilates training program was effective in improving abdominal strength and upper spine posture as well as in stabilizing core posture as shoulder flexion movements were performed. Since deficits in these functional aspects have previously been associated with symptoms in the neck-shoulder region, our results support the use of Pilates in the prevention of neck-shoulder disorders." Photo by rozic's photostream
