Pilates increases isokinetic muscular strength of the elbow flexor and extensor muscles of older women: A randomized controlled clinical trial.
BACKGROUND
The number of elderly people is growing and the practice of physical exercise, such as Pilates, contributes to increased muscular strength and functional autonomy in this population.


OBJECTIVE
To verify the influence of Pilates on the isokinetic muscular strength of the elbow flexors and extensors, and on the functionality of the upper limbs, of older women.


METHODS
Thirty volunteers were randomized into two groups-Pilates group (PG) and Control Group (CG). The PG exercises were performed twice weekly for 12 weeks. Evaluations were performed pre and post-intervention, for isokinetic muscular strength of the elbow flexors and extensors and functionality of the upper limbs.


RESULTS
In the intra-group comparison, the PG improved strength of the elbow extensors and the functionality of the upper limbs (p < 0.05). When comparing the post-intervention moment, the PG was superior to the CG in all variables (p < 0.05), with a large effect size (d > 0.80).


CONCLUSIONS
Pilates increases the isokinetic muscular strength of the elbow flexors and extensors, in addition to the functionality of the upper limbs, in older women.
Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná, Jacarezinho, Paraná, Brazil; Centro de Ciências Biológica e da Saúde, Universidade Norte do Paraná, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. Electronic address: oliveiralc@uenp.edu.br.
Laís Campos de
LC
Oliveira
Centro de Ciências Biológica e da Saúde, Universidade Norte do Paraná, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
Deise Aparecida de Almeida
DA
Pires-Oliveira
Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná, Jacarezinho, Paraná, Brazil.
Amanda Coutinho
AC
Abucarub
Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná, Jacarezinho, Paraná, Brazil.
Letícia Siqueira
LS
Oliveira
Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná, Jacarezinho, Paraná, Brazil; Centro de Ciências Biológica e da Saúde, Universidade Norte do Paraná, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
Raphael Gonçalves de
RG
Oliveira
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology
Age; Exercise; Muscle strength dynamometer