Background: Pilates exercises are used for body shape correction because they can achieve correct posture alignment through spinal stabilization. Objects: This study aimed to determine whether the use of reformers increases the effectiveness of Pilates core exercises on body alignment in standing. Methods: The study included 30 women without known diagnoses of musculoskeletal and neurological disorders or cancer. Those who had taken more than 10 Pilates lessons were excluded. The participants were randomly assigned to either the reformer exercise group or the mat exercise group, and interventional Pilates exercises were performed for 60 minutes a day, three times a week, for a total of 8 weeks. Ten movements of the reformer and mat Pilates core exercise programs were included. Exbody® 9100 MOMI musculoskeletal analysis equipment (Exbody Inc.) was used to assess the alignment of the standing posture in the frontal plane. Results: As a result of comparing the differences within and between the groups before and after the intervention using the two-way mixed analysis of variance test, height differences in the head, pelvis, left and right, shoulders, scapulas, knees, and ankles in the frontal plane after the intervention were found in both groups. For example, the left-right symmetry of the body alignment in the standing posture was significantly improved within each group (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found between the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Both the reformer and mat Pilates core exercises were effective for standing posture alignment, which has clinical significance. If an exercise program is developed based on the analysis of movements necessary for posture improvement and the target muscles to be strengthened, the same effect can be achieved only with mat exercise without using the reformer equipment at the beginner stage.

The purpose of this study was to examine inter- and intra-examiner reliability of the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) anatomical landmarks palpation. Two physical therapists and one doctor specializing in rehabilitation examined 22 asymptomatic subjects. They examined anterior superior iliac supine (ASIS), posterior superior iliac supine (PSIS) and iliac crest (IC). For the assessment of intra-examiner reliability, 3 examiners repeated the measurements 3 times over a 2-week interval. Kappa (Kg) yielded intra-examiner reliability that ranged between slight to fair for the ASIS (Kg=.06 to .26; mean Kg=.19), and slight for the PSIS(Kg=-.04 to .18; mean Kg=.07) and slight to fair for the IC (Kg=.06 to .32; mean Kg=.21). Inter-examiner reliability was slight (ASIS Kg=.13; PSIS Kg=.05; IC Kg=.14). These results suggest that the reliability of the assessing SIJ anatomical landmarks using palpation and observation as an indication of SIJ dysfunction still remains questionable. Before this test can be relied upon as an accurate indicator of SIJ dysfunction, it must undergo further research. This further research needs to examine not only reliability, but also validity, sensitivity and specificity.

Patients with hemiplegia usually show different body weight distribution as compared with normal subjects. Asymmetrical posture during static stance has been identified as a common problem in patients with hemiplegia. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of vision and visual feedback on body weight distribution while standing under three conditions: eyes-closed, eyes-open and visual feedback condition. Fourteen patients with hemiplegia participated in the study. Their body weight distribution during standing for 20 seconds was measured by Limloader. The data were analysed by repeated measure of one-way ANOVA. The weight bearing on the paretic limb in the eyes-open condition was significantly higher than that of the eyes-closed condition. The weight bearing on the parietic limb in the visual feedback condition was significantly higher than that of the eyes-open condition. These results suggest that patients with hemiplegia can improve their symmetrical stance ability using visual feedback.

Weight bearing training on the involved leg is impotant for ambulation and activities of daily living in ambulatory hemiplegic patients. Traditionally, physical therapists have relied on exercise therapy and subjective evaluation. The goal for this study was to measure lower extremity weight distribution in standing with ten hemiplegic pations(M:8, F:2) and to determine the traing effect on symmetrical standing posture using a "Limloader". The Limloader is a machine designed for training symmetrical weight bearing posture. The results showed that the ability to keep the center of gravity within the limits for balance was improved significantly but the ability to adjust weight bearing on the involved leg was not (p<0.05). This study demostrated that hemiplegics can improved their symmetrical weight bearing ability using sensory biofeedback.

Biofeedback devices have been used successfully to improve head control and symmetrical walking in cerebral palsied children. Biofeedback of postural sway was investigated as a therapeutic technique to reduce postural abnormality in 24 selected children with cerebral palsy. Subjects were evaluated their weight distribution of both sides during their standing before and after the visual and auditory feedback training. The effectiveness of biofeedback was compared to conventional physical therapy practices in reestabilishing symmetrical standing in cerebral palsied children. Our study found biofeedback was effective in training symmetrical standing posture.