Acute Effects of Reformer, Cadillac, and Chair Pilates Apparatuses on Cardiac Autonomic Modulation and Flexibility in Sedentary Middle-Aged Women

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Pilates exercises performed on different apparatuses may elicit distinct acute responses in cardiovascular function and musculoskeletal flexibility, yet comparative data on the immediate effects of reformer (RF), cadillac (CD), and chair (CH) pilates exercises remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate and compare the acute effects of RF, CD, and CH pilates sessions on cardiac autonomic modulation and flexibility in sedentary middle-aged women. METHODS: Fifteen participants (mean age: 42.2 ± 1.5 years) completed all three exercise conditions in a randomized crossover design, with sessions separated by at least 72 h. Heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed at pre-exercise, during exercise, and at 10 min intervals up to 40 min post-exercise. Flexibility was measured using standardized sit-and-reach tests at pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, and 40 min post-exercise. RESULTS: < 0.05), indicating post-exercise autonomic modulation independent of apparatus type. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that while acute cardiovascular responses may not differ substantially between pilates apparatuses, the RF apparatus may be more effective for immediate flexibility enhancement in sedentary middle-aged women. Practitioners and clinicians may consider selecting apparatus based on specific functional goals, such as improving flexibility, when designing pilates-based interventions for this population.