Pilates Exercise has Positive Long Term Effects on the Aged-Related Decline in Balance and Strength in Older Adults

        

  Posted on August 12, 2013 by Stone Hearth News

                 J Aging Phys Act. 2013 Aug 6. [Epub ahead of print] Pilates Exercise has Positive Long Term Effects on the Aged-Related Decline in Balance and Strength in Older, Community Dwelling Men and Women Bird ML, Fell J.

 Source:

 School of Human Life Sciences, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.

 Abstract

This study investigated the effect of Pilates exercise on physical fall risk factors 12 months after an initial 5 week Pilates intervention.

 We hypothesised that ongoing Pilates participation would have a positive effect on physical fall risk factors in those that continued with the Pilates exercise compared with those that ceased.

 Thirty older ambulatory adults (69±7yrs) participated in Pilates classes for 5 weeks with testing pre (T1) and post-intervention (T2), and 12 months later (T3).

 Balance and leg strength were compared using a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures.

 Postural sway, dynamic balance and function improvements evident after the initial Pilates training (T1-T2), were maintained at T3 (P<0.01).

Significant differences existed at T3 for dynamic balance and strength between participants who continued performing Pilates (N=14) and those who had ceased.

Balance improvements after a short Pilates intervention were maintained one year later in all participants, with increased benefits from ongoing participation.

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