title: Effects of Pilates method in elderly people: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: The Pilates method has been widely used in physical training and rehabilitation. Evidence regarding the effectiveness of this method in elderly people is limited. Six randomized controlled trials studies involving the use of the Pilates method for elderly people, published prior to December 2013, were selected from the databases PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, Scielo and PEDro. Three articles suggested that Pilates produced improvements in balance. Two studies evaluated the adherence to Pilates programs. One study assessed Pilates' influence on cardio-metabolic parameters and another study evaluated changes in body composition. Strong evidence was found regarding beneficial effects of Pilates over static and dynamic balance in women. Nevertheless, evidence of balance improvement in both genders, changes in body composition in woman and adherence to Pilates programs were limited. Effects on cardio-metabolic parameters due to Pilates training presented inconclusive results. Pilates may be a useful tool in rehabilitation and prevention programs but more high quality studies are necessary to establish all the effects on elderly populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, Brazil. Electronic address: cristinaft05@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Francisco
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Almeida Fagundes
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gorges
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
keywords: Aged; Elderly; Pilates training; Rehabilitation; Systematic review