Table 1.
Study and participants characteristics.
| References/Country | Design | Setting or recruitment | Aims | Inclusion criteria | Total sample size (n), and between intervention groups | Age: Mean (SD) between groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aibar-Almazán et al. (10) Spain |
RCT | Community-dwelling postmenopausal women | To analyse the effects that an exercise programme based on the Pilates method would have on women aged 60 years and older concerning their postural control, FOF, and balance confidence when performing daily activities. | Women, aged 60 years and over and with at least 12 months since their final menstrual period, not involved in a Pilates exercise programme in the last year; and physically independent enough to perform basic daily activities (39) | Total, (n = 110) PILATES, PG (n = 55) / NO INTERVENTION, CG (n = 55) | PG = 69.98 (7.83) CG = 66.79 (10.14) |
| Barker et al. (33) Australia |
RCT | Advertisements in local general practitioner (GP), imaging and physiotherapy clinics; university newsletters; local community centers and newspapers. | To conduct a pilot, single blinded RCT to assess the feasibility of a Pilates exercise program that incorporates best practice guideline recommendations for falls prevention exercise and obtain a preliminary estimate of effect of the program on falls, fall injuries and fall risk factor outcomes to inform the design of a larger clinical trial. | aged ≥ 60 years; at risk of sustaining a fall injury based on a telephone screen developed by the research team (Box 1, available online); and able to negotiate a set of 10 stairs independently without a gait aid. | Total, (n = 53) PILATES PG (n = 22) / NO INTERVENTIONCG, (n = 31) | PG = 69.25 (6.74) CG = 69.41 (5z.76) |
| Bird et al. (31) Australia |
RCT (crossover) | Local community groups in an urban area using radio and print media | To conduct a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of a Pilates intervention on the variables of static and dynamic balance and leg strength in a group of community-dwelling adults older than 60 years. | Participants did not currently have or had not recently had an acute medical condition. Volunteers who had controlled chronic conditions such as arthritis or stable chronic cardiovascular or metabolic conditions (e.g., hypertension, diabetes mellitus) were included in the study. | Total, (n = 32) PILATES, PG (n = 17) / NO INTERVENTION, CG (n = 15), at crossover PG (n = 14) CG (n = 13) (daily activity monitored by (CHAMPS) questionnaire) | No mentioned |
| Oliveira et al. (8) Brazil |
RCT | Community-dwelling older adults in the city of Jacarezinho State of Paraná, Brazil | To determine the isokinetic torque of the knee extensors and flexors, static and dynamic balance, functional mobility, and quality of life of community-dwelling older adults who performed a Pilates exercise protocol. | Age 60–65 years; female; the ability to perform basic and instrumental activities of daily living without assistance; a body mass index (BMI) within the ideal range for the age group (22–27 kg/m2); a statement from a physician indicating sufficient fitness for the practice of physical exercises; not having practiced any type of physical exercise in the previous 6 months; and agreement not to participate in any other type of physical exercise during the study | Total, (n = 32) PILATES, PG (n = 16) / STATIC STRETCHING, CG (n = 16) | PG = 63.6 (1.0) CG = 64.2 (0.8) |
| Donath et al. (30) Switzerland |
RCT 3 arms | Community-dwelling seniors | Investigating whether the neuromuscular training effects are in favor of a traditional balance training program (BAL) or a mat-based Pilates training (PIL) in a group of healthy community-dwelling seniors | healthy seniors (75% women) without artificial joints, neurological and internal diseases, osteoporosis, acute and chronic back pain as well as trauma and balance or strength training experience within the last 6 months | Total, (n = 59) PILATES, PG (n = 20) / MULTIMODAL BALANCE TRAINING, BAL (n = 20) / NO INTERVENTION, CG (n = 19). (daily activities) | PG =70.8 (6.5) BAL = 69.1 (5.8) CG = 69.2 (6.1) |
| Gabizon et al. (34) Israel |
RCT | Mail Community-dwelling, independent older adults were recruited from Lehavim, a community with a high social-economic ranking near Beer-Sheva, in southern Israel | To assess whether a Pilates-training program that includes classical Pilates exercises and exercises using Thera-Band elastic resistance bands and Swiss balls would improve balance control parameters associated with an increased risk of falling. | 65 years of age or older, could ambulate independently (i.e., use of a cane was acceptable, but not a walker), did not have severe focal muscle weakness or visual impairment, did not have known neurological disorders (including stroke or Parkinson's disease), did not have metastatic cancer, and did not take medications that impair balance or strength. All subjects provided a medical waiver, signed by their primary care physician, clearing them to participate in moderate physical exercise. | Total, (n = 88) PILATES with balance, PG (n = 44) / NO INTERVENTION, CG (n = 44) | PG =70.3 (3.8) CG =72.1 (4.60) |
| Josephs et al. (35) USA |
RCT | Local physicians in the area, seniors' groups at churches and community centers, word of mouth and notices posted in the local libraries | To investigate the effectiveness of Pilates group exercise vs. traditional strength and balance group exercise for improving balance, reducing falls and improving balance confidence in community dwelling older adults with fall risk | 65 years of age or older living in the community; impaired balance as defined by at least one of the following: a fall in the past year, TUG > 13.5 s or FAB ≤ 25; and ability to follow instructions as assessed by the ability to complete the questionnaires without assistance. Subjects were not screened for ability, such as use of assistive device for walking, but only that they met the inclusion criteria of history of fall or meeting the cut off for balance compromise with the TUG or FAB. | Total, (n = 31) PILATES / TRADITIONAL STRENGHT AND BALANCE No mentioned | PG = 75.6 (6.2) TG = 74.5(6.9) |
| Mesquita et al. (38) Brazil |
RCT 3 arms | Older women belonging to a church project | To conduct a randomized controlled trial to investigate and compare the effect of both exercise methods on the static and dynamic postural balance variables in elderly women, thus identifying alternatives to prevent falls and promoting functional independency | Women who were sedentary as evaluated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and aged 60–80 years were included in the sample | Total, (n = 63) PILATES, PG (n = 21) / PNFG (n = 21) / NO INTERVENTION, CG (n = 21) (daily activity) | PG = 67.3 (4.9) PNFG = 68.5 (5.4) CG = 71.5 (6.2) |
| Roller et al. (37) California |
RCT | Core Conditioning in Studio City advertisements in newspapers and at senior centers, and by word of mouth, and were screened via a telephone | To investigate whether Pilates Reformer exercises would improve balance, reduce fall risk, improve functional mobility, and improve balance confidence in adults age 65 and older at risk for falls. | Aged 65 years or older, self-reported history of two or more falls or one injurious fall in the past year, TUG test score of 13.5 s suggesting risk for falling and physician approval to participate in the study. | Total, (n = 59) PILATES, PG (n = 27) / NO INTERVENTION, CG (n = 28) | PG = 78.52 (7.57) CG = 76.68 (6.79) |
| Surbala et al. (32) India |
RCT 3 arms | Ambulatory geriatric subjects were recruited from four different old age homes (OAH) in Surendranagar area | The study aims in determining and comparing the effectiveness of PI and CBT specially designed for the elderly population in improving functional balance and QOL. | Age between 65 and 74 years both males and females; able to walk at least 30 feet with or without an assistive device; not participating in any sports or physical therapy sessions; willingness to do physical exercise thrice a week with regular attendance; have fallen at least once within previous year; fear of fall scoring >23 in 16 items falls efficacy scale international questionnaire; Mini-Mental Status Examination score of 24; and no affirmative responses to the PAR-Q instrument for inactive older adults | Total, (n = 51) PILATES PG (n = 17) / CONVENTIONAL BALANCE TRAINING, CBT (n = 17) / CONTROL, CG (n = 17). (exercise) | PG = 70.7 (2.7) CBT =70.3 (2.9) CG = 69.35 (3.0) |
| Vieira et al. (36) Brazil |
RCT | Community dwelling seniors | To investigate the effects of a 12-week Pilates-inspired exercise program on functional performance among community-dwelling older women | Each subject had been instructed to avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverages and to not perform moderate or heavy exercise the day before and the day of the application of the protocols. Before beginning the test, subjects were interviewed and examined to confirm their good health and whether they had a normal night's sleep | Total, (n = 52) PILATES, PG (n = 26) / NO INTERVENTION, CG (n = 26) (daily activity) | PG = 66.0 (1.35) CG = 63.3 (0.91) |
| Badiei et al. (11) Iran |
RCT | Elderly women who were referred to the day care center of Kahrizak sanatorium (Alborz Province) via the convenient sampling method. | To determine the effect of Pilates exercise on Fear of Falling (FOF) among elderly women | Age between 60 and 80 years, willingness to join the study and signing the consent form, having medical approval that certifies the person's ability to participate in physical activity and exercise routines, no history of hospitalization in the past 3 months as well as ability and availability to attend at least 80% of the Pilates exercise sessions. | Total, (n = 44) PILATES, PG (n = 22) /NO INTERVENTION, CG (n = 22) (daily activity - (stretching training) as usual. | PG = 68 (5.9) CG =71 (4.1) |
RCT, Randomized Controlled Trial; PG, Pilates group; CG, control group; CBT, Conventional Balance Training; PNFG, Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation group; PI, principal investigator; OAH, old age homes; TUG, Time Up and Go; FAB, Frontal assessment battery; TG, Traditional strength; BAL, traditional balance training program; PIL, Pilates training; BMI, Body mass index; GP, general practitioner; FOF, Fear of falling; QOL, Quality of life; PAR-Q, Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire.