Effects of Pilates Exercise Program in Patients With Schizophrenia
Condition: Schizophrenia
MeSH terms: Schizophrenia
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Schizophrenia is one of the most frequent psychiatric disorders with a prevalence of 0.5-1.0
      % all over the world. It remains one of the major reasons for disability although medical and
      psychosocial interventions.

      People suffering from schizophrenia may also have many complex health troubles such as
      cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, diabetes mellitus, and pulmonary problems.

      Researchers have been debating the utility of exercise over depression, anxiety, and
      obsessive-compulsive symptoms last decades. Studies indicate that physical activity improves
      mood, self-esteem, energy, motivation, concentration, cognitive skills, quality of life, and
      social interactions. Particularly in the last decade studies have been carried out showing
      that various exercise approaches and physical activities contribute positively to the
      physical and mental health of schizophrenic patients. Clinic impacts of these interventions,
      dominantly including aerobic exercise, strengthening and fitness training, also varied
      according to the type, duration and intensity of the method used.

      The knowledge obtained about schizophrenia patients point out that physically and mentally
      holistic approaches should be required to this complicated disease. Previous trials
      demonstrated that various physical activity or exercise methods have positive effects in
      patients with schizophrenia. However, to the best of the our knowledge, literature lacks
      investigation about benefits of Pilates on several domains, in particular about the potential
      changes on physical and mental health in patients with schizophrenia. The aim of this study
      was to investigate the effects of Pilates-based exercise training on the physical and mental
      health of schizophrenia patients.
    

Detailed description: 
      Pilates exercises developed by Joseph Pilates has an increasing popularity in last decades.
      Pilates supposed that the balance between body and mind is an important factor in achieving
      health and happiness. Pilates stimulates the mind and decreases mental strain. The basic
      principles of Pilates-based approach are concentration, control, centering, diaphragmatic
      breathing, lightness, precision, and relaxation. It also aims to enlighten the awareness of
      body by inducing mind control. The control of large group muscles with coordination and
      focusing on breathing may increase aerobic capacity, and further improves mental health.
      Heretofore, some researchers also reported that the holistic approach of Pilates-based
      training may provide physical and psychological improvements on human health, and various
      intensities benefit the quality of life, mental health, physical fitness levels, and body
      types. Pilates exercises are utilized with a wide range spectrum for many diseases'
      management and are particularly used also for mental health disease such as depression,
      anxiety, mood etc. The sample of the study consisted of patients who were diagnosed with
      schizophrenia according to The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth
      Edition (DSM-5). Current study was conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration and
      its subsequent amendments. All the subjects volunteered to participate in this research and
      signed the informed consent form approved by the Institutional Clinical Research Ethics
      Committee (Protocol no: 2015-84-21/10). On receipt of a completed consent form, patients were
      assigned to Pilates exercise group (PEG) or control group (CG) based on their willingness.
    

Intervention name(s): Pilates exercise group; Control Group
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): Pilates exercise group participated in supervised Pilates-based group training twice per week for six weeks; The control group participated in a routine non-specific activity program twice a week in Community Mental Health Center during study
Other intervention name(s): non-specific; activity; program
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: Pilates exercise group participated in supervised Pilates-based group training twice per week for six weeks, while the control group participated in a routine non-specific activity program twice a week in Community Mental Health Center during study
Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Health Services Research
Keywords: Pilates exercise