Is Pilates effective in improving depressive disorders? A comprehensive overview

Area of Science:

• Integrative and Complementary Medicine
• Mental Health Research
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Depressive disorders represent a significant global health burden with substantial social costs.
• Pilates, a mind-body exercise, has shown potential benefits for overall health and well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing literature on the efficacy of Pilates for managing depressive disorders.
• To synthesize evidence regarding Pilates' impact on depressive symptoms and its comparison to other interventions.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive bibliographic search was performed across major databases: PubMed, Medline, and Scopus.
• Inclusion criteria focused on English-language studies evaluating Pilates' effectiveness on depressive symptoms.
• The review predominantly included randomized controlled trials (10 out of 12 studies).

Main Results:

• The literature indicates that Pilates significantly improves depressive symptoms, particularly when compared to inactivity.
• Effectiveness is noted with medium-to-long term practice durations, typically 8-16 weeks.
• Pilates demonstrates comparable effectiveness to aerobic exercise in alleviating depressive symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Pilates can be considered a viable complementary treatment option for individuals experiencing depressive disorders.
• Findings suggest Pilates is effective in improving mood symptoms, potentially offering a non-pharmacological approach.
• Further research with homogenous study designs is recommended to generalize these findings.