title: Effects of a Pilates exercise program on muscle strength, postural control and body composition: results from a pilot study in a group of post-menopausal women.
abstract: Participation in exercise programs is heartily recommended for older adults since the level of physical fitness directly influences functional independence. The aim of this present study was to investigate the effects of supervised Pilates exercise training on the physical function, hypothesizing that a period of Pilates exercise training (PET) can increase overall muscle strength, body composition, and balance, during single and dual-task conditions, in a group of post-menopausal women. Twenty-five subjects, aged 59 to 66 years old, were recruited. Eligible participants were assessed prior and after 3 months of PET performed twice per week. Muscular strength was evaluated with handgrip strength (HGS) test, 30-s chair sit-to-stand test (30CST), and abdominal strength (AST) test. Postural control and dual-task performance were measured through a stabilometric platform while dynamic balance with 8 ft up and go test. Finally, body composition was assessed by means of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Statistically significant improvements were detected on HGS (+8.22%), 30CST (+23.41%), 8 ft up and go test (-5.95%), AST (+30.81%), medio-lateral oscillations in open eyes and dual-task condition (-22.03% and -10.37%). Pilates was effective in increasing upper body, lower body, and abdominal muscle strength. No changes on body composition were detected. Results on this investigation indicated also that 12-week of mat Pilates is not sufficient to determine a clinical meaningful improvement on static balance in single and dual-task conditions.
authors.affiliation: Sport and Exercise Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova (IT), Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy. marco.bergamin@unipd.it.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergamin
authors.affiliation: Sport and Exercise Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova (IT), Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gobbo
authors.affiliation: Sport and Exercise Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova (IT), Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bullo
authors.affiliation: Sport and Exercise Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova (IT), Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zanotto
authors.affiliation: Sport and Exercise Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova (IT), Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vendramin
authors.affiliation: Sport and Exercise Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova (IT), Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Duregon
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences "M. Aresu", University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cugusi
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova (IT), Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Camozzi
authors.affiliation: Sport and Exercise Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova (IT), Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaccaria
authors.affiliation: Sport and Exercise Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova (IT), Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neunhaeuserer
authors.affiliation: Sport and Exercise Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova (IT), Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ermolao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017698:Postmenopause; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Balance; Dual-task; Pilates; Strength; Women