Sleep and Hypnosis: A Journal of Clinical Neuroscience and Psychopathology January 2018 20(4):262-266
Ali Seghatoleslami
Ali Hemmati Afif
Khadijeh Irandoust, Imam Khomeini International University
Morteza Taheri, University of Tehran
Inactive lifestyle and its degrading consequences such as increased body fat mass, muscle atrophy and physical functioning problems are among factors affecting the motorcontrol in adulthood. Therefore, the aim of study was to investigate the effect of Pilates exercise on motor control indexes of inactive middle-aged women. Method: This was a semi experimental study with pretest and post test design performed on 43 inactive females with mean age of 44.4±5.1 yearswith low activity, body percent fat above 35%, WHR> 0.95. They were assigned into two experimental (n=22) and control (n=21) groups. The pilates group did their exercise for 4 months, three weeks a week while the control group did their daily routines. Allbody composition variables were measured by body composition analyzer and functional tests were measured by speed and balance tests. Independent and dependent t-test was used to analyze the data. Results: The results suggested that dynamic balance and walking speed were improved significantly and those effective factors on motor control such as obesity variables, including body mass index (BMI), waist hip ratio (WHR), percent body fat (PBF), visceral fat (VF) (respectively, p=0.003; p=0.001; p=0.004) were also improved. Walking speed and balance were the other parameters affecting the motor control of aged women (respectively, p=0.001; p=003). Conclusion: It seems that pillates exercise may improve walking speed, balance and also lead to a better bodycomposition. Therefore, having such an exercise program can be effective in motor controland its major consequences for gait and postural control of elderly people.