Effects of Pilates Standing Exercises on Walking Mobility and Postural Balance

Summary

Importance: Aging is characterized by numerous molecular, physiological, functional, motor and psychological changes, such as loss of postural balance and reduced muscle mass/strength. Such modifications often lead to reduced physical-functional capacity in the elderly and increased risk of falls. Currently, physical exercise is widely used to improve physical performance and reduce, at least in part, postural instabilities and the risk of falls. In this context, the Pilates method may be a good strategy to improve body balance, muscle strength and, potentially, the perception of quality of life in this population, depending how the exercises are performed. This study seeks to assess whether practicing Pilates exercises in orthostatic position results in differential effects on walking mobility and postural balance in healthy elderly women when compared to the standard sequence in the Pilates method, which involves less time performing exercise in the orthostatic position. The study hypothesis is that a higher relative volume of Pilates exercises performed in the orthostatic position can promote greater benefits in terms of walking mobility and postural balance compared to the standard Pilates protocol in the elderly.

Conditions

• Aging
• Mobility Limitation
• Postural Balance

Interventions

OTHER

Standing Pilates protocol

Subjects will be submitted to a bi-weekly, 50-minute session of Pilates exercises focusing on orthostatic position, for twelve weeks. The following equipment will be used: The Cadillac, Reformer and Chair, emphasizing balance training in the orthostatic position.

OTHER

Standard Pilates protocol

Subjects will be submitted to a bi-weekly, 50-minute session of the standard sequence of Pilates exercises (traditional sequence of the contemporary / classical method) for twelve weeks. The exercises will be performed using the same equipment used in the intervention group, but following the dorsal decubitus, sedestation and orthostasis, in a time-balanced distribution in each session.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior.

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

  collaborator OTHER

• Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Régis G Mestriner, PhD · Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SCREENING

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

60 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-03-01

Primary Completion

2019-07-30

Completion

2019-07-30

Countries

• Brazil

Study Locations