Table 1 Description of study population and interventions given to groups

Kyounghwa Jung [4]

(2020)

Korea

Obesity

Group-1 (N-12)

Group-2 (N-12)

Group-3 (N-12)

Follow-up

Group-1 (N-10)

Group-2 (N-10)

Group-3 (N-12)

Age range = 34–60 years/47.5 ± 7.5

Group 1–51.6 ± 6.5

Group 2–43.8 ± 8.6

Group 3–47.2 ± 6.4

Group 2-normoxic Pilates training group (NPTG): perform Pilates training using tubing band under normoxic condition F_iO₂: 20.9%

Group 3-hypoxic Pilates training group (HPTG): same as NPTG but under hypoxic condition F_iO₂: 14.5%

Group 1-control group: Maintained their daily life style as usual without any intervention

Antonino Patti [7]

(2016)

Italy

Chronic low back ache

Group-1 (N-19)

Group-2 (N-19)

Follow-up—100%

Group 1–41.31 ± 11.24

Group 2–41.63 ± 13.01

Group 1-Pilates matwork group: the hundred, roll-ups, single-legged circles, spine stretches, rolling like a ball, and single-legged stretches are all exercises. On a rubber mat, each exercise was carried out

GROUP 2—CONTROL GROUP: continue their own social interactions and routine medical care, which includes taking NSAIDs

Tetiana Odynets [33] (2019)

Ukraine

Breast cancer

Group-1 (N-50)

Group-2 (N-44)

Group-3 (N-30)

Follow-up

Group-1 (N-45)

Group-2 (N-40)

Group-3 (N-30)

Age range = 50–60 year

Group 1–58.84 ± 1.36

Group 2–59.40 ± 1.24

Group 3–59.10 ± 1.37

Group 1-Water exercise: breathing exercises and physical exercises. noodles, blades, water dumbbell were used

Group 2-Pilates exercises; floor exercise that includes a warm-up, a resistance band-based main component, and a cool-down

Group 3-Yoga exercise: performed as follows: a 10-min warm-up, followed by 40 min of exercise, and a 10-min cool-down (10 min)

NO

Suzy Araújo de Medeiros [34] (2020)

Brazil

Fibromyalgia

Group- 1 (N-21)

Group- 2 (N-21)

Follow-up—100%

Age range = 18–16 years

Group 1-Mat Pilates: performed in a spacious, pleasant space with a group of up to 4 women. Exercises were conducted while adhering to all six principles

GROUP 2—AQUATIC AEROBIC EXERCISE: performed in a pool with a 31-degree Celsius temperature

Sayyed-Mohammad Marandi [35] (2013)

Iran

Multiple sclerosis

Group-1 (N-19)

Group-2 (N-19)

Group-3 (N-19)

Follow-up—100%

Age range = 20–40 years

Group 1-Pilates exercise group: encompassing stretches, strength, muscular nervous coordination, and balance exercises

Group 2-Aquatic exercise group: followed by stretching, power, and endurance exercises after swimming

GROUP 3—CONTROL GROUP: NO INTERVENTION MENTIONED

Luiza Rampi Pivotto (2020)

Brazil [38]

Temporomandibular dysfunction

Group-1 (N-20)

Group-2 (N-20)

Follow-up

Group-1–100%

Group-2 (N-19)

Age range = 18–35 years

Group 1–29.3 ± 5.9

Group 2–28.5 ± 6.2

Group 1–Pilates group (intervention group): all study participants made use of myorelaxant plates for 15 weeks. This group made use of plates concomitantly with Pilates based exercise program for 15 weeks. There is progression of exercises in the protocol after each exercise session

Group 2–control group: Maintain their initial level of physical activity with use of Myorelaxant plates

Seyed Kazem Mousavi Sadati [39]

(2022)

Iran

Elderly women with reduced muscle strength and flexibility

Group-1 (N-10)

Group-2 (N-10)

Group-3 (N-10)

Follow-up—100%

Age range = 50–60 year

Group 1–52.2 ± 2.84

Group 2–54.1 ± 3.46

Group 3–54.2 ± 3.37

Group 1-Pilates exercises

Group 2-Pilates exercises traband

Group 3-Pilates weight training

NO

Chae-Woo Lee [40]

(2014)

Korea

Chronic low back ache

Group-1 (N-20)

Group-2 (N-20)

Follow-up—100%

Group 1–34.0 ± 3.3

Group 2–34.4 ± 3.1

Group 1-Pilates mat exercise group: Breathing, crossed arms in a spine-spinal position, arm circles, knee-over-knee twist stretches, pelvic peels, and other exercises

Group 2-Pilates apparatus exercise group: Breathing, Hamstring stretch: standing tall position, straight legs. Mermaid: sit tall, one hand on foot. Arms up and down: pelvis neutral, hip flexion 90° holding hand strap etc

NO

Yasmin M. Abd El-Monim [41]

(2019)

Egypt

Type 2 diabetes

Group-1 (N-20)

Group-2 (N-20)

Follow-up–100%

Age range = 35–55 years

Group 1–46.0 ± 5.15

Group 2–44.65 ± 6.31

Group 1–Pilates group (study group): an initial 7–10 min warm up phase followed by 40 min Pilates phase that consist of 5 types of exercise (bent knee, shoulder bridge, side kick front, side kick back, single leg circle), that is finally followed by 7–10 min of cool down phase. Also received regular medical treatment

Group 2–control group: received regular medical treatment with no change on their regular daily activities

Seyed Alireza Tavakoli Khormizi [42] (2017)

Iran

Obese women with type 2 diabetes

Group-1 (15)

Group-2 (15)

Follow-up–100%

Age range = 40–60 years

Group 1–51.06 ± 2.3

Group 2–51.2 ± 3.7

GROUP 1- Pilates group: an initial 5 min of stretching exercise followed by Pilates exercises (for about 50 min), cool down and return to initial status (for about 5 min)

Group 2–control group: monitoring of control group was done for 2 months on regular basis