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Force-Vector Pilates Exercises on Functional Performance and Braking Reaction Time in Older Professional Drivers: An
Caio Cezar de Lima Maciel1, Alexandre Leopold Busse2, Ana Carolina Sauma Maluly1
1Graduate Program in Experimental Physiopathology, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo (FMUSP), Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Background And Purpose:
Evidence regarding driving-related outcomes in older professional drivers remains limited. This exploratory feasibility study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a force-vector-oriented Mat Pilates program in older professional drivers and to explore potential changes in functional performance and braking reaction time.
Methods:
A single-group prospective longitudinal study was conducted among older professional drivers (n = 49 eligible; n = 47 initiated intervention). Participants attended one supervised 50-min Mat Pilates session per week for 30 sessions. Assessments were performed at baseline (M1), after 15 sessions (M2), and after 30 sessions (M3). Outcomes included TUG, handgrip strength, cervical rotation, anterior reach, SPPB, five-repetition calf-raise time (s) endurance, and braking reaction time in a driving simulator. Repeated measure comparisons across M1, M2, and M3 were performed using the Friedman test, with Kendall's W reported as effect size. Analyses were conducted per protocol.
Results:
Sixteen of 47 participants who initiated the intervention completed it (34.0%), with attrition primarily related to financial and logistical constraints. Statistically significant differences across time points were observed in mobility (TUG), lower-limb performance (SPPB) 4-m walking speed (m/s) and five-repetition calf-raise time (s), with lower times indicating better performance), cervical rotation (left), and anterior reach (p < 0.05). Handgrip strength showed no significant change. Braking reaction time showed a non-significant numerical reduction from 0.90 ± 0.11s at M1 to 0.83 ± 0.15s at M3 (p = 0.098). Exploratory findings were derived from a small per-protocol sample (n = 16) and should not be interpreted as evidence of intervention benefit.
Conclusions:
The force-vector-oriented Mat Pilates program was feasible to implement within this occupational context. Exploratory analyses identified changes in selected functional performance measures, including mobility and lower-limb performance; however, these findings should not be interpreted as evidence of effectiveness due to the single-group design, small per-protocol sample, and absence of a control group. No statistically significant change was observed in the braking reaction time.
