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Effect of a physical training program using the Pilates method on flexibility in elderly subjects.
Jeam Marcel Geremia1, Matheus Magalhães Iskiewicz1, Rafael Aguiar Marschner2
1Faculdade Sogipa de Educação Física, Av. Benjamin Constant, 80, Porto Alegre, RS, 90550-003, Brazil.
Age (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
|November 19, 2015
Summary
Pilates exercise significantly improved body flexibility in elderly individuals, enhancing range of motion in the spine, shoulders, and hips. This training may reduce fall risks and improve overall functionality in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Kinesiology
- Physical Therapy
Background:
- Aging leads to reduced flexibility, increasing fall risk and health issues.
- Pilates exercise is recognized for its potential to mitigate age-related flexibility loss.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of a 10-week Pilates program on the body flexibility of elderly individuals.
Main Methods:
- Twenty elderly participants (18 women, 2 men, aged 70±4 years) without mobility limitations or specific health disorders underwent a 10-week Pilates training program.
- Flexibility was measured using a flexometer before and after the training period, assessing various joint movements (cervical, thoracolumbar spine, glenohumeral, hips, knees).
Main Results:
- Significant improvements were observed across multiple joints, including cervical spine flexion, extension, and left rotation; thoracolumbar spine flexion, extension, lateral bending, and rotation; glenohumeral joint flexion, abduction, and external rotation; hip flexion; and knee bending.
- The thoracolumbar spine demonstrated the greatest improvement in range of motion.
Conclusions:
- Pilates training is an effective method for enhancing body flexibility in the elderly.
- This improvement in flexibility can help counteract age-related decline, potentially reducing the risk of falls and improving functional capacity in older adults.
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