An interventional study of Pilates exercise and Walking exercise in Sedentary Behaviors and Core Muscle Weakness, sponsored by Mahidol University. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Thailand. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 59 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-26.
Sponsored by Mahidol University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The global rise in physical inactivity represents an escalating public health crisis, with the proportion of insufficiently active adults projected to reach 35% by 2030. Office workers are at the highest risk due to prolonged occupational sitting; a lifestyle factor heavily linked to various musculoskeletal disorders. While maintaining an upright posture relies on the synergistic coordination of deep core muscles, extended sitting disrupts this muscular balance, leading to chronic postural decay. Although Pilates is proven to improve core muscle thickness, enhance physical fitness, and alleviate low back pain, existing literature shows high variability in training durations (ranging from 6 to 16 weeks) and lacks definitive conclusions regarding its long-term, residual effects post-intervention. Consequently, it remains unclear whether the benefits of Pilates can be sustained once the structured training stops. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Pilates on core stability and physical fitness among sedentary individuals, providing insights into sustainable exercise interventions.
1,273 studies on the registry are indexed under Sedentary Behavior; 300 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 34 is below the median of 60 across 1,076 interventional studies indexed under Sedentary Behavior.
Browse Sedentary Behavior studies →Mahidol University is the lead sponsor of 747 studies on the registry; 119 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
BMI (body mass index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants in the experimental group participated in a Pilates exercise program.
Other: Pilates exercise
Participants in the control group participated in a walking exercise program.
Other: Walking exercise
The 1-hour Pilates exercise program was supervised by an instructor.
The 1-hour walking exercise program was supervised by a physical therapist. Participants walked on a treadmill, where the speed was gradually increased to achieve a moderate intensity level, maintaining their heart rates within 64% to 70% of their maximum heart rate.
Muscle thickness
A handheld ultrasound device was used to measure trunk muscle thickness at rest and during contraction.
Time frame: Baseline, at 4 weeks post-training, at 8 weeks post-training, at 2 weeks post-training cessation, and at 4 weeks post-training cessation.
Muscle strength
A handheld dynamometer was used to measure trunk muscle strength. Participants were instructed to maintain a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) for 5 seconds per trial, with a 30-second rest period between trials to minimize fatigue.
Time frame: Baseline, at 4 weeks post-training, at 8 weeks post-training, at 2 weeks post-training cessation, and at 4 weeks post-training cessation.
Muscle flexibility
The sit-and-reach test was used to measure lower back and hamstring flexibility. Participants completed static stretching for 5 minutes before assessment. During the assessment, participants sat with knees fully extended and feet hip-width apart against the sit-and-reach box. They then reached forward, using their fingertips to displace the sliding scale as far as possible in a single trial.
Time frame: Baseline, at 4 weeks post-training, at 8 weeks post-training, at 2 weeks post-training cessation, and at 4 weeks post-training cessation.
Muscle endurance
The McGill Core Endurance Test was used to measure trunk muscle endurance. Each test was conducted once, with the duration recorded using a digital stopwatch. Timing commenced once the participant achieved the standardized starting position and ceased when they could no longer maintain the required posture.
Time frame: Baseline, at 4 weeks post-training, at 8 weeks post-training, at 2 weeks post-training cessation, and at 4 weeks post-training cessation.
Proprioception
Joint Repositioning Error (JRE) was measured under both eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions to assess proprioception. Participants began the assessment seated with their hips and knees flexed at 90°, feet positioned shoulder-width apart, and arms resting naturally at their sides. From this baseline, they were guided into a neutral reference position-defined by full trunk extension and a flat spinal alignment-which they were instructed to memorize. To facilitate measurement, a marker was placed at the first sacral vertebra (S1), and a laser pointer was fixed 50 cm away from this landmark. The testing procedure required participants to perform three cycles of trunk flexion and extension before attempting to return to the neutral reference position as accurately as possible. The JRE represented the distance between the laser beam's initial and final positions.
Time frame: Baseline, at 4 weeks post-training, at 8 weeks post-training, at 2 weeks post-training cessation, and at 4 weeks post-training cessation.
Balance
The Y-Balance Test (YBT) was used to measure dynamic balance. Participants were instructed to reach out and push the indicator as far as possible.
Time frame: Baseline, at 4 weeks post-training, at 8 weeks post-training, at 2 weeks post-training cessation, and at 4 weeks post-training cessation.
Posture
Posture was measured using the Posture-analyzing and Virtual Reconstructing (PAViR) system, which utilized an RGB-D camera for skeletal reconstruction.
Time frame: Baseline, at 4 weeks post-training, at 8 weeks post-training, at 2 weeks post-training cessation, and at 4 weeks post-training cessation.
Pain level
Pain location was identified through participant interviews, while pain intensity was quantified using a 0-10 Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
Time frame: Baseline, at 4 weeks post-training, at 8 weeks post-training, at 2 weeks post-training cessation, and at 4 weeks post-training cessation.
Health-Related Quality of Life
Health-Related Quality of Life was measured using the Thai version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief (WHOQOL-BREF-THAI). This 26-item instrument assessed four core domains: physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment. Responses were scored on a Likert scale, with higher scores indicating better health status and overall QoL.
Time frame: Baseline, at 4 weeks post-training, at 8 weeks post-training, at 2 weeks post-training cessation, and at 4 weeks post-training cessation.
Plan to share: Yes — Research data will be shared in a de-identified format only; for instance, participant names will be replaced with codes, and faces will be blurred in all images.
Supporting information: Clinical study report
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Start is estimated for Aug 2026; primary completion for Aug 2027, 12 months later.
Of 733 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Sedentary Behavior, half reached primary completion within 14 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 6 and three quarters within 31. This study's planned 12 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 741 studies reached it within 14 months; a quarter within 6 and three quarters within 31.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jun 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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