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Abstract
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OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of a group-based Pilates training program on balance control and health status in healthy older adults.
DESIGN: A single blind, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: General community. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-eight community dwelling older adults (age 71.15±4.30 years), without evidence of functional balance impairment, were recruited and allocated at random to a Pilates intervention group (n=44) or a control group (n=44). INTERVENTION: The Pilates intervention group received 36 training sessions over three months (3 sessions a week) while the control group did not receive any intervention. OUTCOME MEASURES: Standing upright postural stability, performance based measures of balance, and self-reported health status was assessed in both groups at baseline and at the end of the intervention period.
RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the Pilates intervention did not improve postural stability, baseline functional measures of balance, or health status.
CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that because Pilates training is not task specific, it does not improve balance control or balance function in independent older adults.
Language: en |