1- Master of science, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad Branch: Mashhad, Iran
2- Assistant professor, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad Branch: Mashhad, Iran
3- Assistant professor, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
2- Assistant professor, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad Branch: Mashhad, Iran
3- Assistant professor, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
Abstract: (260 Views)
Background and purpose: Physiological changes that occur during the aging process include specific changes in the nervous and musculoskeletal system that can affect performing complex movements and cause falls and other accidents. It seems that increasing age cause to decreasing strength in the main body muscles and fear of falling leading less walking and other physical activities. According to findings, the weakness of lower limb muscle strength, decrease in walking ability, decrease in balance ability, and decrease in sensorimotor control are among the things that lead to falls in the elderly. The ability to walk gradually decreases due to the weakness of the sensory and muscular function of the lower limbs, which leads to a change in the walking pattern of the elderly and their balance. Therefore, physical activities can prevent sarcopenia and decrease in motor performance of the elderly. Therefore, the aim of the study was to explore the effect of a Pilates training on the balance and spatio-temporal parameters of walking of elderly women.
Methodology: In this semi-experimental research, 24 elderlies and late of middle age women, in the age range of 55-65 years old were randomly divided into two groups of 12 Pilates. the necessary explanations about the experiment were given to the participants, after receiving informed consent, they completed the health form. The people who participated in the training course did not have a history of fractures in the lower limbs, vision and vestibular system disorders, or traumatic or neurological diseases. The six-week Pilates program was held twice a week. at the beginning of each session, the subjects did a warm-up program for 10 to 15 minutes under the supervision of a Pilates instructor. In each session, stretching, endurance and strength exercises for the upper and lower limbs with trunk and abdomen training was trained. At the end, a 10-minute cooling down exercise was performed by the trainer. In this research, some stretching movements and some strengthening movements of the pelvic region were performed from the Pilates Stout exercise table. Before the implementation of the training program, the variables of spatial and temporal parameters of walking, static and dynamic balance were measured and the tests were repeated after the training program was completed.
Results: In the experiment group mean age was 58.50 ± 5.35 years; mean height was 159.96 ± 4/59 cm and mean weight was 71.45 ± 3.37 and control group was with mean age 61.63 ± 5.42 years; mean height 154.63 ± 4.42 cm andmean weight 70.04 ± 10.94. The results of the descriptive statistics of the data show that the temporal-spatial parameters in the pre-test are almost similar to each other (numerically), but in the post-test, the experimental group had higher values in all parameters. In the inter-group comparison using the independent t-test (Table 1), it showed that there is no significant difference between the spatial parameters of the two experimental and control groups in the pre-test (p≤0.05), which indicates the homogeneity of the research groups. In the post-test, a significant difference was seen only in the step length variable between the two groups (p=0.03). Also, in the pre-test of the balance variables, there was no significant difference between the two groups (p ≤ 0.05), but in the post-test, in both the Stork and the TUG test, a significant difference was existing between the two groups (p≥ 0.05). The results of the paired t-test to investigate the effect of training showed that the training period had a significant effect on the variables of speed (p=0.01), step length (p=0.01) and stride length (p=0.00) in the experiment group but there was no significant difference in the variables of stride rate and step width (p≤0.05). In the dynamic balance, a significant difference was seen in the pre-test and post-test of the control and experimental groups (p≥0.05).
Conclusion: A short period of Pilates training leads to the development some spatio-temporal parameters of walking. Considering the role of Pilates exercises in developing strength, endurance, range of motion, and coordination, it is recommended for the gate and balance development of the late of middle age and elderly. Also, the results showed that Pilates training for six weeks and 12 sessions can incease the potetial for improving dynamic balance which is related to falling. Research suggestions based on limitations and research findings are presented for future research.
Methodology: In this semi-experimental research, 24 elderlies and late of middle age women, in the age range of 55-65 years old were randomly divided into two groups of 12 Pilates. the necessary explanations about the experiment were given to the participants, after receiving informed consent, they completed the health form. The people who participated in the training course did not have a history of fractures in the lower limbs, vision and vestibular system disorders, or traumatic or neurological diseases. The six-week Pilates program was held twice a week. at the beginning of each session, the subjects did a warm-up program for 10 to 15 minutes under the supervision of a Pilates instructor. In each session, stretching, endurance and strength exercises for the upper and lower limbs with trunk and abdomen training was trained. At the end, a 10-minute cooling down exercise was performed by the trainer. In this research, some stretching movements and some strengthening movements of the pelvic region were performed from the Pilates Stout exercise table. Before the implementation of the training program, the variables of spatial and temporal parameters of walking, static and dynamic balance were measured and the tests were repeated after the training program was completed.
Results: In the experiment group mean age was 58.50 ± 5.35 years; mean height was 159.96 ± 4/59 cm and mean weight was 71.45 ± 3.37 and control group was with mean age 61.63 ± 5.42 years; mean height 154.63 ± 4.42 cm andmean weight 70.04 ± 10.94. The results of the descriptive statistics of the data show that the temporal-spatial parameters in the pre-test are almost similar to each other (numerically), but in the post-test, the experimental group had higher values in all parameters. In the inter-group comparison using the independent t-test (Table 1), it showed that there is no significant difference between the spatial parameters of the two experimental and control groups in the pre-test (p≤0.05), which indicates the homogeneity of the research groups. In the post-test, a significant difference was seen only in the step length variable between the two groups (p=0.03). Also, in the pre-test of the balance variables, there was no significant difference between the two groups (p ≤ 0.05), but in the post-test, in both the Stork and the TUG test, a significant difference was existing between the two groups (p≥ 0.05). The results of the paired t-test to investigate the effect of training showed that the training period had a significant effect on the variables of speed (p=0.01), step length (p=0.01) and stride length (p=0.00) in the experiment group but there was no significant difference in the variables of stride rate and step width (p≤0.05). In the dynamic balance, a significant difference was seen in the pre-test and post-test of the control and experimental groups (p≥0.05).
Conclusion: A short period of Pilates training leads to the development some spatio-temporal parameters of walking. Considering the role of Pilates exercises in developing strength, endurance, range of motion, and coordination, it is recommended for the gate and balance development of the late of middle age and elderly. Also, the results showed that Pilates training for six weeks and 12 sessions can incease the potetial for improving dynamic balance which is related to falling. Research suggestions based on limitations and research findings are presented for future research.
Type of Study: Original Research Article |
Subject:
Rehabilitation
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