The Effects of 12 Weeks Pilates-inspired Exercise Training on Functional Performance in Older Women

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of 12-week Pilates-inspired exercise on functional performance in community-dwelling older women.

Detailed Description
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Pilates is an exercise system developed over 70 years ago that has been recently received attention due to its beneficial effects on postural stability, coordination, muscle strength and flexibility. The studies published involving Pilates were very different among them regarding intervention period (5, 8, 12 and 24 weeks), frequency (2 and 3 sessions/week) and exercises (mat, mat with accessories, apparatus and others combinations), making meaningful comparison difficult. Furthermore, other important physical features to maintain an independent life at older age, such as cardiorespiratory fitness, were accessed in few studies. So, the effective benefits of Pilates method on physical fitness of community-dwelling older people remain unclear.

Official Title
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The Effects of 12 Weeks Pilates-inspired Exercise Training on Functional Performance in Older Women: a Randomized Study

Conditions
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Aging

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Pilates
* Other: Control


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: good health based on clinical examination (doctor's certificate) good functional capacity(physical examination) Exclusion Criteria: current smokers obese (BMI >30 Kg/cm2) musculoskeletal limitations neurologic diseases cardiovascular diseases condition that contraindicated exercise regularly engaged in other physical conditioning program (>2x/week and/or >150min/week)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 60 Years
Maximum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Pilates<br>Group received 12 week of inspired-Pilates intervention (2 days/week, 60 minutes duration). | Other: Pilates<br>* The Pilates program was conducted twice weekly, 60 minutes/session, for twelve consecutive weeks by a certified Pilates Instructor.<br>|
| Other: Control<br>Control group was oriented to maintain the habitual activities during 12 weeks | Other: Control<br>* The control group did not receive the Pilates training program and were instructed to maintain their currently activities during the twelve-week follow-up period.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| physical fitness | In this study, physical fitness includes strength, balance and aerobic resistance. | changes from baseline physical fitness at 12 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Pilates method, elderly, postural balance