Prenatal Pilates and Postpartum Ligamentous Laxity

NCT07344857 — Completed, 42 participants, Ankara Medipol University

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Impact of a Prenatal Pilates Program Continued Until Childbirth on Postpartum Ligamentous Recovery: a Longitudinal Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Registry	NCT07344857
Status	Completed
Study type	Observational
Enrollment	42 (Actual)
Sponsor	Ankara Medipol University (Other)
Conditions	Laxity of Ligament, Pregnancy, Pilates Exercise
Dates	start 2025-11-20, primary completion 2026-01-15, completion 2026-01-15, first posted 2026-01-15, last updated 2026-01-22
Locations	1 site in Turkey (Türkiye)

-Summary

Pregnancy induces hormonal and biomechanical adaptations that increase ligamentous laxity, which may persist into the postpartum period and contribute to joint instability, pain, and functional limitations. Although prenatal Pilates has been shown to prevent the progression of ligamentous laxity during pregnancy, its effects on postpartum musculoskeletal recovery remain unclear. This longitudinal follow-up of a randomized controlled trial evaluated ligamentous recovery at 6 weeks postpartum in women who participated in a structured prenatal Pilates program continued until childbirth, compared with women receiving standard prenatal care. Postpartum ligamentous laxity, generalized joint hypermobility, and activity limitations related to pelvic girdle pain were assessed using objective and clinical measures. The study aimed to determine whether prenatal Pilates facilitates early postpartum ligamentous recovery and supports functional outcomes during the early postpartum period.

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+Arms and interventions

Arm	Type	Interventions	Description
Pilates Group			Participants in the Pilates group attended supervised 60-minute sessions twice weekly for eight weeks, led by a certified physiotherapist trained by the Australian Institute of Pilates and Physiotherapy.
Control Group			The control group received standard prenatal care and ergonomic advice, and did not participate in any exercise training.

+Outcome measures

Primary outcomes

Ligament laxity [10 minutes]: The anterior tibial translation of the knee will be considered as representative of the anterior laxity of the knee of women measured with an arthrometer ® (bilateral examination repeated 3 times on each knee).The degree of laxity will be evaluated thanks to the international classification IKDC.

Secondary outcomes

Generalized joint hypermobility [2 minutes]: Generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) was assessed using the Beighton scoring system, which consists of five bilateral and unilateral maneuvers. Each positive test scored one point, with a maximum score of 9. A score of ≥5 indicated GJH.
Physical activity level [7 days]: Participants' physical activity was monitored using the Omron HJ-321-E pedometer (Omron Healthcare, Japan), which detects vertical oscillations and stores up to seven days of data.

+Eligibility

Sex: Female, ages: 20 Years to 35 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* Aged between 18-35 years
* In the 6th week of post-partum
* Voluntary participation in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

* Cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases
* Prior participation in structured physical activity programs

+Locations (1)

Facility	City	Country	Status
Ankara Medipol University	Ankara, Altındağ	Turkey (Türkiye)

+Publications

Results publication: Bulguroglu HI, Bulguroglu M, Degirmenci B, Suicmez S, Aslan CG, Develik SZ, Atalay Guzel N. Effect of continued prenatal Pilates until childbirth on postpartum ligamentous recovery: a longitudinal follow-up of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2026 May 1;26(1):663. doi: 10.1186/s12884-026-09183-1. PMID 42067815

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