Effects of pilates on lower-limb strength and gait patterns in women with knee hypermobility: A preliminary study.

This article examines the effects of an 8-week online Pilates program on lower-limb strength and gait biomechanics in women with knee joint hypermobility (JH), a condition characterized by excessive joint mobility due to connective tissue laxity. The study involved nine women with knee hypermobility and five healthy controls participating in bi-weekly Pilates sessions via Zoom, with assessments of quadriceps and hamstrings strength and knee angles during walking conducted pre-, mid-, and post-intervention. Results showed significant improvements in the hypermobility group’s hamstrings and quadriceps strength, hamstrings-to-quadriceps ratio, and reductions in hyperextended knee angles at heel-strike and push-off, while controls improved only in quadriceps strength without changes in knee angles. The findings suggest that Pilates may enhance muscle strength and proprioceptive control, thereby reducing knee hyperextension and potentially lowering injury risk in women with knee JH. The study highlights the feasibility of virtual Pilates interventions but notes limitations including small sample size, female-only participants, and variability in supervision during recorded sessions.