---
title: Does clinical Pilates reduce PMS symptoms and improve physical fitness?
description: Yes. Eight weeks of clinical Pilates, done twice weekly, significantly reduced PMS symptoms and improved fitness, core strength, and reduced fear of movement
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/effects-of-clinical-pilates-on-physical-fitness-premenstrual-symptoms-and-2026/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Does clinical Pilates reduce PMS symptoms and improve physical fitness?

Randomised trial, 2026

# Does clinical Pilates reduce PMS symptoms and improve physical fitness?

Yes. Eight weeks of clinical Pilates, done twice weekly, significantly reduced PMS symptoms and improved fitness, core strength, and reduced fear of movement in women with PMS.

 Moderate study design

40 women with PMS

## What they did

RCT with 40 women with PMS divided into 2 groups of 20. The exercise group did supervised clinical Pilates twice weekly for 8 weeks. The control group received general wellness advice only. Both groups were measured before and after.

## What they found

The Pilates group had significant improvements in body composition, functional capacity, core endurance, PMS severity, and fear of movement (p<0.05). Flexibility improved in both groups but more in the Pilates group (p<0.001).

## What it means for you

Clinical Pilates is an effective non-drug treatment for PMS. The study is small and lasted only 8 weeks, so we don't know if benefits continue afterward or how much ongoing Pilates is needed.

40 women

studied

8 weeks

intervention duration

twice weekly

session frequency

## About the study

Original title Effects of clinical pilates on physical fitness, premenstrual symptoms, and kinesiophobia: a randomized controlled trial Authors Songül Öztürk, Meltem Kaya Journal The Annals of Clinical and Analytical Medicine Year 2026 Study design Randomised trial Participants 20 What was tested Clinical Pilates twice weekly for 8 weeks Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.4328/acam.22851](https://doi.org/10.4328/acam.22851)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Review, 1998

What does research say about diagnosing and treating PMS and PMDD?

Cohort study, 2026

Do sleep, exercise, and diet quality affect period pain, heavy bleeding, and PMS in midlife?

Randomised trial, 2026

Does yoga or Pilates help reduce PMS symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2026

Does aerobic or resistance exercise reduce anxiety in women with PMS?

Systematic review, 2026

Do mindfulness and relaxation techniques help with PMS symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2026

Does yoga reduce PMS symptoms?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗