Examination of the Effects of Pilates Exercises on Sleep Quality and Physical Activity.

In this study, it was aimed to examine the effects of pilates exercises applied to university students for 8 weeks on physical activity and sleep quality scores. Forty students (20 female, 20 male) studying at Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University voluntarily participated in the study. Individuals participating in the study were administered the International Physical Activity Assessment Questionnaire (IPAQ); short form and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) as well as personal information forms including demographic variables. Then, the experimental group practiced Pilates exercises for 8 weeks, 2 days a week, 60 minutes a day, and the training and measurement process was completed by retaking the information obtained as pre-tests through the forms. In the analysis of the data, the normality test was evaluated with Kolmogorov Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilks tests, and Pearson correlation analysis was used for the relationships between variables with normal distribution. Independent Sample T Test was used to compare variables. Confidence interval was 95% and values below p<0.05 were considered significant. According to the analysis results of the participants, it was determined that there were significant differences in favor of the experimental group in the Sleep Quality score (p=,041), Physical Activity total (p=,000) score and physical activity sub-dimensions (High, Medium, Walking) scores of 8-week pilates practices applied to university students. In addition, there was a moderate (r=637) positive correlation between total physical activity score and physical activity sub-dimensions. As a result, regular pilates exercises provided statistically significant differences in sleep quality, physical activity total score and physical activity sub-dimensions and increased the daily physical activity level in participants with a sports background. In the light of these results, we can recommend pilates exercises to increase physical activity level and sleep quality.