Effects of Pilates Programs among the Elderly on Some Physical Parameters

Abstract

Pilates has recently become one of the most popular sports activities. Many people prefer Pilates to overcome the adverse effects of a sedentary lifestyle. News about celebrities preferring Pilates over other exercise types and increasing number of articles and information on Pilates on societal media also increased people’s awareness on it and created hype. Aging decreases physical fitness, and consequently, quality of life. A large number of studies reported that physical activity is a requirement in promoting health and physical well-being of individuals during the aging process. In this literature review, changes in some physical parameters due to practicing Pilates among the elderly were evaluated. The studies in this literature review generally stated that Pilates improves dynamic balance and decreases risk of falling in the elderly. There are also some studies reporting that positive effects of Pilates are not very significant. There is a dearth of scientific research comparing the effects of Pilates to other types of exercising modes.