Feasibility of a mat-based Pilates program for community dwelling seniors to improve balance and core strength.

Abstract

Background: Popular programs to combat the increased rates of falls and improve overall balance and strength in the aging population are limited by accessibility or focus on distal movements, thereby limiting gains from the programs. The use of an age-appropriate, community-based Pilates program focusing on core strengthening for improved balance is proposed.

Objective: The primary objective was to test the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of a mat-based, core strengthening Pilates program (aka Pilates Gold). The secondary objective was to investigate changes in balance and core strength for participating seniors.

Design: Prospective pre-post, observational study.

Setting: Classes were on site at two retirement community centers.

Participants: Males and females (65 years old and older) were recruited from two different senior community centers on a first-come first-serve basis. Participants had to be (1) English speaking, (2) an existing resident at one of the retirement communities, and (3) considered healthy by common standards.

Interventions: Mat-based Pilates program for 8 consecutive weeks. Movement difficulty and pace were slowly increased over the 8-week program, with a maximum of 17 different movements.

Main outcome measures: Primary outcomes for feasibility of the Pilates program were the Acceptability of Intervention Measure, Intervention Appropriateness Measure, and Feasibility of Intervention Measure. Secondary outcomes included the Sitting-Rising test, Activities Balance Confidence, and Patient Global Impression of Change.

Results: The Pilates program was deemed appropriate, acceptable, and feasible by >80% of senior participants. Over 80% also reported some level of change in overall health due to the program. No significant differences were observed in balance outcomes, although there were individual improvements.

Conclusions: Community-based Pilates programs are highly desired, feasible, and acceptable. These results justify further studies, of longer training periods and perhaps increasing difficult levels, to determine if core strengthening mat-based Pilates is truly capable of improving balance, strength, and fall risks in seniors.