| Guimarães et al., 20142323 Guimarães ACA, Azevedo SF, Simas JPN, Machado Z, Jonck VTF. The effect of pilates method on elderly flexibility. Fisioter Mov. 2014;27:181-8./Brazil |
Experimental |
To verify the effect of the Pilates method in the hip and shoulder girdle flexibility levels in the elderly |
60 elderly subjects: 30 CG/30 PG (85% women; 15% men) |
Mean 68 (SD ± 5.1) years |
Pilates exercises with and without the use of machines |
60 min, 2× per week/average to moderate intensity, 10–12 repetition series for each exercise/12-week duration |
Hip flexibility: CG normal and lower in pre-test and retest. PG pretest: 60% normal and 10% higher; and on retest 66.7% normal and 33% higher (p = 0.180).
Shoulder flexibility: PG pre-test: 63% normal and 17% higher, and on retest 47% normal and 33% higher (p = 0.001) |
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| Bird and Fell, 20142626 Bird ML, Fell J. Positive long-term effects of pilates exercise on the aged-related decline in balance and strength in older, community-dwelling men and women. J Aging Phys Act. 2014;22:342-7./Australia |
Quasi-experimental |
To investigate the effect of Pilates exercise on the risk of physical fall risk factors |
30 elderly subjects of both genders |
Mean 69 (SD ± 7) years |
Pilates classes |
5 weeks of intervention (T1)/post intervention (T2)/12 months later (T3) |
There were significant differences in dynamic balance and strength among participants who continued with Pilates versus those who discontinued. One year later, improvements in balance were maintained in all participants |
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| Bird et al., 20121717 Bird ML, Hill KD, Fell JW. A randomized controlled study investigating static and dynamic balance in older adults after training with Pilates. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2012;93:43-9./Australia |
Experimental |
To evaluate the effects of a Pilates intervention in balance and function in the elderly living in the community |
32 elderly subjects, men and women (16 CG and 16 PG) |
Over 60 years: mean 67.3 (SD ± 6.5) years |
Pilates exercises |
2 60-min group sessions per week/5-week duration |
There were no significant differences between PG and CG for all measured variables. Static and dynamic balance improved significantly from pre to post-Pilates (p < 0.05) |
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| Rodrigues et al., 20102424 Rodrigues BGS, Cader SA, Torres NVOB, Oliveira EM, Dantas EHM. Functional autonomy of elderly women practicing pilates. Rev Fisioter Pesq. 2010;17:300-5./Brazil |
Experimental |
Evaluate the effect of the Pilates method in the functional autonomy of elderly women |
52 elderly women (27 PG, 25 CG) |
60–78 years: PG (66.9 ± 5.3 years); CG (65.2 ± 3.9 years) |
Pilates practice, using a Bobath ball and specific devices of the method |
2 sessions twice per week. Each session lasting 1 h/8-week duration |
PG showed significant improvement in the functional performance of older subjects (p < 0.05) |
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| Curi Pérez et al., 20142525 Curi Perez VS, Haas AN, Wolff SS. Analysis of activities in the daily lives of older adults exposed to the pilates method. J Bodywork Mov Ther. 2014;18:326-31./Brazil |
Quasi-experimental |
To analyze the Pilates Method (PM) to assess whether it can help to improve the performance of activities that older people perform in their daily lives |
22 elderly women |
65–74 years |
Pilates classical method |
50-min sessions twice per week/12-week duration |
After 12 weeks of training, the elderly women began to take less time to perform the activities of daily living |
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| Fourie et al., 20132828 Fourie M, Gildenhuys GM, Shaw I, Shaw BS, Toriola AL, Goon DT. Effects of a mat pilates programme on body composition in elderly women. West Indian Med J. 2013;62:524-8./South Africa |
Experimental |
To determine the effects of a Pilates program in body fat in older women |
50 elderly women (25 CG, 25 PG) |
60 years and over |
Pilates exercise program |
3 weekly sessions lasting 60 min/8-week duration |
PG showed a significant reduction in total body fat |
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| Fourie et al., 20132929 Fourie M, Gildenhuys GM, Shaw I, Shaw BS, Toriola AL, Goon DT. Effects of a mat pilates program on flexibility in elderly women. Med Sport (Roma). 2013;66:545-53./South Africa |
Experimental |
To describe the range of motion of single or multiple joints in frail elderly people |
50 elderly women (25 CG, 25 PG) |
60 years and over |
Pilates exercise program |
3 weekly sessions lasting 60 min/8-week duration |
Significant improvement in shoulder flexion (from 152.84 ± 21.32 degrees to 179.60 ± 10.53 degrees; p = 0.000) and hip flexion (from 74.36 ± 13.07 degrees to 82.60 ± 16.40 degrees;. p = 0.002) |
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| Hyun et al., 20143636 Hyun J, Hwangbo K, Lee CW. The effects of pilates mat exercise on the balance ability of elderly females. J Phys Ther Sci. 2014;26:291-3./South Korea |
Experimental |
To compare the effects of Pilates practice in balance and stability of elderly female |
40 elderly subjects of both genders (divided into PG and CG) |
65 years and over |
Pilates exercises |
3 times per week, each session lasting 40 min/12-week duration |
After the intervention period, oscillation duration and balance oscillation speed lowered significantly (p <0.05) in both groups |
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| Siqueira Rodrigues et al., 20102222 Siqueira Rodrigues BG, Ali Cader S, Bento Torres NV, Martin Dantas Eh. Pilates method in personal autonomy, static balance and quality of life of elderly females. J Bodywork Mov Ther. 2010;14:195-202./Brazil |
Experimental |
To evaluate the effects of the Pilates method in personal autonomy, static balance and quality of life in healthy older women |
52 elderly women (27 PG, 25 CG) |
60 years and over |
Pilates exercises |
2 sessions of 1 h per week/8-week duration |
There was a significant difference in the post-test in the PG for balance (Delta% = 4.35%, p = 0.0001); for functional autonomy index (% Delta = −13.35%, p = 0.0001) and for quality of life (Delta% = 1.26%, p = 0.0411) |
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| Irez et al., 20143232 Irez GB. The effects of different exercises on balance, fear and risk of falling among adults aged 65 and over. Anthropologist. 2014;18:129-34./Turkey |
Experimental |
To compare the effects of Pilates and a walking exercise program on dynamic balance, flexibility and muscle strength in an elderly population.
Determine the effects of Pilates in resting heart rate, resting blood pressure, fasting glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides in older women |
45 elderly subjects of both genders (15 PG, 15 CG and 15 walking group) with 10 female and 5 male in each group |
Over 65 years |
Mat Pilates exercises |
3 times per week, each session lasting 60 min/14-week duration |
Statistically significant differences were found in pre- and post-intervention scores for weight (z = −2.94; p = 0.03), flexibility (z = −2.87, p = 0.04), muscle strength of hip flexion (z = −2.37, p = 0.02), balance (z = −2.67, p = 0.03), balance confidence (z = −2.24; p = 0.04), and Downton fall risk index (z = −2.12, p = 0.03) in Pilates group |
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| Marinda et al., 20133030 Marinda F, Magda G, Ina S, Brandon S, Abel T, Goon DT. Effects of a mat pilates program on cardiometabolic parameters in elderly women. Pak J Med Sci. 2013;29:500-4./South Africa |
Experimental |
To determine the effects of Pilates in resting heart rate, resting blood pressure, fasting glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides in older women |
50 elderly women (25 CG and 25 PG) |
60 years and over; mean 65.32 (SD ± 5.01) for CG and 66.12 (SD ± 4.77) for PG |
Pilates exercise program |
60 min, 3× per week/Progressive intensity/8-week duration |
Statistically significant reduction in systolic blood pressure, increase of blood glucose |
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| Newell et al., 20122020 Newell D, Shead V, Sloane L. Changes in gait and balance parameters in elderly subjects attending an 8-week supervised pilates programme. J Bodywork Mov Ther. 2012;16:549-54./United Kingdom |
Observational |
To investigate whether elderly subjects participating in a supervised Pilates community program improved in terms of gait and balance pattern |
9 elderly subjects of both genders |
60–76 years; mean 67.8 (SD ± 5.0) |
Mat Pilates exercises and accessories |
60 min/1× per week/intensity was not reported/8-week duration |
Significant improvement in walking speed and step cycle. Significant increase in stride length. Decrease in both anterior and posterior oscillation with improved risk of falling index |
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| Irez et al., 20113333 Irez GB, Ozdemir RA, Evin R, Irez SG, Korkusuz F. Integrating pilates exercise into an exercise program for 65 or more year-old women to reduce falls. J Sports Sci Med. 2011;10:105-11./Turkey |
Experimental |
To determine whether an exercise program based on Pilates method was effective in improving dynamic balance, mobility, postural stability, in order to reduce the number of falls in the elderly |
60 elderly women: 30 CG and 30 PG |
Over 65 years: mean, 72.8 ± 6.7 years for PG and 78 ± 5.7 years for CG |
Mat Pilates exercises and accessories, elastic and ball |
60 min/3× per week/intensity was not reported/12-week duration |
PG showed a significant improvement in dynamic balance compared to the control group. Regarding flexibility, PG showed significant improvement in the Sit and Reach test from pre- to post test, while CG showed no significant difference.
PG also showed improvement in muscle strength and reaction time, both in simple and choice, after 12 weeks of Pilates.
A smaller number of falls was reported by PG |
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| Kuo et al., 20092727 Kuo YL, Tully EA, Galea MP. Sagittal spinal posture after pilates-based exercise in healthy older adults. Spine. 2009;34:1046-51./Australia |
Experimental |
To determine changes in sagittal spinal posture in older adults during standing and sitting after a Pilates-based exercise program |
34 elderly subjects (10 men, 24 women) |
Over 60 years: mean, 64 ± 6 years |
Pilates exercises performed on the ground, in equipment and with accessories |
75 min, 2× per week/intensity was not reported, but the level of exercise was in accordance with the participant's progress/12-month duration |
Standing and sitting posture remained unchanged, except the angle of the lumbar spine in sitting posture. Immediately after the Pilates exercise program, the elderly subjects presented a small reduction in chest flexion in standing posture, and sitting with increased lumbar extension |
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| Pata et al., 20143737 Pata RW, Lord K, Lamb J. The effect of pilates based exercise on mobility, postural stability, and balance in order to decrease fall risk in older adults. J Bodywork Mov Ther. 2014;18:361-7./United States |
Quasi-experimental |
To determine changes in sagittal spinal posture in older adults during standing and sitting after a Pilates-based exercise program |
35 elderly subjects (31 women and 4 men) |
61–87 years |
Exercises using the key principles of Pilates designed for seniors |
60 min/2× per week/progressive exercises/8-week duration |
Significant improvement in Timed Up and Go Test, Turn-180 Forward Reach tests.
Improved confidence, with respect to fear of falling. Results suggest that a program based on Pilates method can be effective in improving balance, mobility, postural stability and in reducing the number of falls |
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| Kaesler et al., 20071919 Kaesler DS, Mellifont RB, Swete Kelly P, Taaffe DR. A novel balance exercise program for postural stability in older adults: a pilot study. J Bodywork Mov Ther. 2007;11:37-43./Australia |
Quasi-experimental |
To examine an intervention through exercises designed to improve balance in an upright position, based on Pilates techniques |
8 elderly subjects, men and women |
66–71 years |
The selected exercises and techniques were based and inspired by the Pilates principles: dissociation, stabilization, mobilization and dynamic stabilization |
60 min/2× per week/progression of the exercises as needed, the subject should perform 15 repetitions/8-week duration |
Significant improvement in some static and dynamic components of postural sway, as well as improvement in functioning demonstrated through a better response to the Timed Up and Go Test.
The results suggest that a short training period based on Pilates can improve postural stability, and also functioning in the elderly |
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| Plachy et al., 20123434 Plachy J, Kovách M, Bognár J. Improving flexibility and endurance of elderly women through a six-month training programme. Hum Mov Sci. 2012;13:22-7./Hungary |
Experimental |
To assess whether a regular training program lasting one year can have a positive effect on flexibility, range of motion, and aerobic endurance in a sample of elderly women |
42 elderly women divided into three groups: PG: n = 15
PG + water: n = 15
CG: n = 12 |
Mean, 67.1 ± 4.5 years |
Pilates exercises and water exercises |
60 min/3× per week (PG - 3× Pilates, PG + A – 2× water exercise, and 1× Pilates)/intensity was not reported/6-month duration |
For those subjects in both groups who performed exercise, all variables showed significant differences.
The results with a more significant difference for PG were the 6-min walk and the sit-to-stand tests; with regard to both intervention groups, improved shoulder and hip flexibility stood out. The results suggest that a training program impacts on physical performance improvement and on requirements of daily life in elderly |
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| Ruiz-Montero et al., 20142121 Ruiz Montero PJ, Castillo-Rodriguez A, Mikalački M, Nebojsa C, Korovljev D. 24-Weeks pilates-aerobic and educative training to improve body fat mass in elderly serbian women. Clin Interv Aging. 2014;9:243-8./Serbia |
Experimental |
To evaluate the differences in body composition and anthropometric measurements in a sample of Serbian women over 60 years in a 24-week clinical intervention study, through a guided program that combined aerobic exercises and Pilates |
311 elderly subjects: 303 women and 8 men |
60–70 years |
Training program consisted of aerobic exercise with music, and exercises of basic and intermediate levels of Pilates |
55–60 min/2× per week/intensity was gradually increased based on the perception of the first session effort on the Borg scale (0–10)/24-week duration |
Increase in post-test systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Significant reduction of body fat. Bone diameter bone and muscle circumference were not significantly different.
A high correlation was found between body fat and waist-hip ratio.
Based on the results, the practice of a mixed program of Pilates and aerobic exercise generate an effect of improving muscle mass and reducing body fat, without causing deterioration during practice and in the post-exercise period |
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| Mallery et al., 20031818 Mallery LH, MacDonald EA, Hubley-Kozey CL, Earl ME, Rockwood K, MacKnight C. The feasibility of performing resistance exercise with acutely ill hospitalized older adults. BMC Geriatr. 2003;3:1-18./Canada |
Experimental |
To measure adherence and compliance to a resistance program when performed during acute treatment in a hospital |
39 elderly subjects of both genders: PG – n = 19 (5 men and 14 women), CG - n = 20 (11 men and 9 women) |
Over 70 years: mean age: PG – 82.7 (SD ± 8.5), CG – 81.4 (SD ± 6.1) |
Exercises based on the principles of resistance training and Pilates. The control group received conventional physical therapy through passive motion |
Mean session of 10 min/3× per week/intensity: 60–80% 1RM, up to 10 repetitions/duration relied on length of hospital stay; however, a maximum of 4 weeks |
PG participation was 71% (p = 0.004), with 63% adherence (p = 0.020); CG participation was 96% with 95% adherence |
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| Gildenhuys et al., 20133131 Gildenhuys GM, Fourie M, Shaw I, Shaw B, Toriola A, Witthuhn J. Evaluation of pilates training on agility, functional mobility and cardiorespiratory fitness in elderly women. Afr J Phys Health Educ Recreat Dance. 2013;19:505-12./South Africa |
Experimental |
To check the effects of Pilates training in agility, functional mobility and VO2 max. in older women |
50 elderly women (25 CG, 25 PG) |
60 years and over |
Pilates exercise program |
3 weekly sessions lasting 60 min/8-week duration |
Prescription of resistive exercise for hospitalized patients results in acceptability and adherence. The training improved significantly agility (from 6.18/1.22 s to 4.70/0.90 s; p = 0.000) and functional mobility (in all tests, p = 0.000). Significant improvement in VO2max was not observed |
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| Kovach et al., 20133535 Kovach MV, Plachy JK, Bognar J, Balogh ZO, Barthalos I. Effects of pilates and aqua fitness training on older adults' physical functioning and quality of life. Biomed Hum Kinet. 2013;5:22-7./Hungary |
Experimental |
To measuring the effects of Pilates and water training on functional fitness and quality of life in older individuals |
54 elderly subjects of both genders divided into three groups: PG: n = 22
Aquatic fitness group: n = 17
CG: n = 15 |
Mean 66.4 (SD ± 6.2) years |
Pilates exercises and water exercises |
60 min/3× a week (PG and water exercises)/intensity was not reported/6-month duration |
Significant improvement in lower and upper extremity strength, flexibility, physical mobility (especially dynamic balance), and aerobic endurance was found in Pilates group. Shoulder flexibility significantly improved in the aquatic fitness group. BMI did not change significantly in any of the groups. WHOQOL (quality of life) showed improvement in the perception and autonomy in PG, aid in sociability in the aquatic group |
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