The effects of reformer pilates on postural alignment, body appreciation and social appearance anxiety in office workers.

Abstract

Background and objective: With the increasing prevalence of sedentary work life, misalignments in postural alignment and psychosocial health problems have become common among office workers. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a reformer Pilates exercise program on postural alignment, body appreciation, and social appearance anxiety in sedentary office employees.

Methods: A one-group pretest-posttest experimental design was used. The sample consisted of 22 desk-based office workers (14 females, 8 males) selected through convenience sampling. Postural alignment, body appreciation, and social appearance anxiety were assessed using the New York Posture Rating Scale, the Body Appreciation Scale, and the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale, respectively. Participants completed 60-minute reformer Pilates sessions twice a week for 8 weeks. Pre- and post-intervention measurements were compared using paired samples t-tests. Effect sizes (Cohen's d) were also calculated to assess the magnitude of changes.

Results: The 8-week reformer Pilates program led to significant improvements in postural alignment (p < 0.001, large effect), increased body appreciation (p < 0.01, moderate effect), and reduced social appearance anxiety (p < 0.001, large effect) among participants.

Conclusion: Reformer Pilates appears to improve postural alignment, body appreciation, and social appearance anxiety in sedentary office workers. Incorporating such programs into workplace wellness initiatives may help enhance physical and psychosocial well-being.