The Effects of Pilates Training on Balance Control and Self-Reported Health Status in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of a group-based Pilates training program on balance control and health status in healthy older adults. Design: A single-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Setting: General community. Participants: A total of 88 community-dwelling older adults (age 71.15 +/- 4.30 years), without evidence of functional balance impairment, were recruited and allocated at random to a Pilates intervention group (n = 44) or a control group (n = 44). Intervention: The Pilates intervention group received 36 training sessions over three months (3 sessions a week), while the control group did not receive any intervention. Outcome measures: Standing upright postural stability, performance-based measures of balance, and self-reported health status was assessed in both groups at baseline and at the end of the intervention period. Results: Compared with the control group, the Pilates intervention did not improve postural stability, baseline functional measures of balance, or health status. Conclusions: The results suggest that because Pilates training is not task specific, it does not improve balance control or balance function in independent older adults.