The present study demonstrated that Pilates-based exercise may slightly
enhance the psychological well-being of healthy women, measured by life
satisfaction, physical self-concept, and perception of health status. Pilatesbased
exercise among healthy women during the initial 3-month period (60-
minute sessions twice per week) may not have been of sufficient duration
to promote significant increases in the health outcome variables studied.
However, after 6 months, the women in the experimental group did exhibit
a slight significant improvement in life satisfaction, as well as in the three
dimensions of physical self-concept, the total physical self-concept, and the
perception of health status, when compared with those who participated in
the CG.
Because the Pilates-based mat exercises may have positive benefits on
life satisfaction, physical self-concept, and perception of health status, future
research may focus on precisely which aspects of the exercise program serve
as valid predictors of physical and psychological health. Further investigations
should explore the influence of differences in variables, such as age
and gender, as well as personality traits, that may affect the relationship
between exercise and health.