The Effect of an 8-Week Pilates Training Program on Flexibility and Sport-Specific Performance in Young Female Artistic Swimmers

Abstract Purpose Female artistic swimmers’ successful competitive performance depends on several physical performance factors such as postural control, flexibility, muscle strength, and aerobic endurance. Flexibility is a highly important physical component that can directly impact successful performance. Pilates could be an appealing training modality to artistic swimmers due to the sport’s reliance on precise body control and synchronized movements. This study aimed to assess the impact of an 8-week Pilates training program on flexibility and sport-specific performance in young female artistic swimmers. Methods Eighteen competitive artistic swimmers aged 13 to 15 years (13.8±0.8 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. The experimental group executed a Pilates class, incorporating typical equipment exercises (small Pilates ball and bands), while the control group maintained their regular gym workout routine. Both groups had two training sessions per week for 60 minutes per session. Every athlete was evaluated on their ability to accomplish two basic figures in the water (Ariana, Rio). To evaluate all characteristics, univariate analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were employed, with initial measurements as covariates and final measures as dependent variables. Results Flexibility exercises, splits ( P =.028), bridge ( P =.003), shoulders ( P =.005), and figures (Ariana: P =.001, Rio: P =.003), demonstrated statistically significant differences in favour of the experimental group. However, there was no difference in knee flexibility across the groups (p=0.376). The covariate had a significant impact (p<.05) across all analyses. Conclusion The findings suggest that Pilates training enhances flexibility and basic figure performance in young female artistic swimmers. Incorporating Pilates into training programs could be beneficial in improving flexibility and overall performance.