This study aimed to investigate the effects of 8-week mat and reformer pilates exercises on functional movement skills, flexibility of adult healthy sedentary women. 58 [reformer exercise group (n: 20), mat exercise group (n: 21) and control group (n: 17)] volunteer women participated in the study. Functional Movement Screen test (FMS), sit and reach test, Trunk lateral flexion test, Quadriceps Femoris and M.Iliopsoas flexibility test were applied to the participants. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used in the analysis of the obtained data. Additionally, Bonferroni test, one of the multiple comparison tests, was used to determine the source of the difference between groups. Moreover, the percentage changes of eight-week exercises on FMS scores, flexibility and strength parameters of adult women were determined by using the formula %Δ= [(Post-test - Pre-test) / Pre-test*100]. According to the results of the study, it was determined that there was a statistically significant difference in the total FMS mean scores and flexibility test results of the exercise group and the control group. There was a higher increase in FMS scores and lower extremity flexibility values of the reformer group compared to the mat group, on the other hand, upper extremity flexibility levels of the mat group were found to be higher than the reformer group. As a result, it was determined that 8-week mat and reformer pilates exercises had a positive effects on some functional movement skills and flexibility parameters in adult healthy sedentary women.

Keywords: Mat pilates, Reformer pilates, Functional movement screen