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Effects of 20-week Mat-Pilates & Dual-Task Training on Strength, Balance, Cognition, and Fall Risk in Older Adults

NCT07119762 · Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 67

Last updated 2025-09-08

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Our aims are to evaluate the impact of 24-week combined Pilates and dual-task exercises on physical fitness, balance, cognitive function, bone density in older adults. Participants ≥ 65 years of both genders will be randomly allocated to a control (n= 55) or intervention group (n= 55). Twice a week, sessions will take place in the FADEUP- UPORTO, with moderate intensity Pilates exercise and dual-task exercises. Trunk strength and stability, balance, cognitive function, and physical fitness will be accessed before and after the intervention. The Pilates method is easy to apply, low cost and widely accepted by older adults and it can integrate dual-task exercises easily. The researcher expected the intervention to improve balance, physical and cognitive skills of the participants, which may reduce the number of falls. The investigators seek to contribute with relevant information and enlighten the Dual Task-Pilates program as a safe strategy to reduce falls and maintain elderly's autonomy.

Conditions

  • Healthy People Programs

Interventions

OTHER

Pilates sections

This intervention combines Pilates with dual-task training over 20 weeks, featuring twice-weekly 60-minute sessions at moderate to vigorous intensity. It is uniquely grounded in methods from the Polestar and PhysicalMind schools and adapted for older adults (≥65 years), utilizing chairs, elastic bands, and minimal equipment. Unlike typical exercise programs, this protocol integrates cognitive tasks within Pilates exercises to simultaneously challenge physical and executive functions. Exercise intensity is individualized using heart rate monitors and the Borg scale. Assessments include trunk strength (Biodex System 4), balance (Biodex SD), and cognitive function (MoCA, Stroop, WAIS-III, TMT), making it one of the few trials to rigorously evaluate physical, cognitive, and dual-task performance outcomes in older adults. This approach is low-cost, scalable, and focused on fall prevention and autonomy maintenance.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal

    collaborator OTHER

  • Universidade do Porto

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Joana Carvalho, PhD · CIAFEL

Study Design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
60 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-08-01
Primary Completion
2025-10-31
Completion
2026-04-30

Countries

  • Portugal

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07119762 on ClinicalTrials.gov