Feasibility and Efficacy of Mat Pilates on People with Mild-to-Moderate Parkinson's Disease: A Preliminary Study

Daily Exercise Patterns and Their Differences between Parkinson's Disease Patients with and without Postural Instability

BACKGROUND

Due to the clinical impact of exercise in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), management should include personalized and effective exercises according to patient's PD stage. We investigated the detailed exercise behaviors of patients with mild to advanced PD and compared their patterns between PD with and without postural instability (PI).

METHODS

We enrolled PD patients from September to December 2019. Clinical data on parkinsonism, exercise behaviors, and Physical Activity Scale of the Elderly (PASE) scores were collected and compared between mild PD without PI (Hoehn-Yahr (HY) stages 1 and 2) and advanced PD with PI (HY stages 3 and 4).

RESULTS

In total, 263 PD patients were recruited. The mean exercise frequency was 4.7 ± 2.1 times/week, and the average duration was 7.8 ± 6.7 hours/week. The most common exercise was an aerobic exercise (71.9%) of mild-to-moderate intensity, with active walking being the most common (49.0%). The mild PD patients demonstrated a higher duration and intensity of exercise and more physical activity than the advanced PD patients. However, the frequency of exercise was not significantly different between the two groups. The PASE score was significantly higher in mild PD patients than in advanced PD patients (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

PD patients focused mostly on aerobic exercises, especially active walking. With the disease progression, the amount and intensity of exercise decreased while frequency remained. Higher intensity of exercise is needed in the mild PD group, while the advanced PD group requires the increment of duration for each exercise session.

Exercise physical, fitness and Parkinson's disease: an 8-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND

The progression of Parkinson´s Disease is variable, leading to a poor pharmacological response, as the effect of medication is reduced due to adaptation. Physical therapy is established as adjuvant treatment on physical conditions. The aim of this study was to monitor the level of physical fitness and anthropometric parameters of patients diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, who had participated in physical exercise programs for 8-years.

METHODS

71 patients diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease (53.50% males), mean age 71.19±9.04 years old, with a mean disease stage of 2.52±0.77 (Hoehn and Yahr scale). All patients underwent an assessment of fitness and body composition at baseline (2011), 4-years, and 8-years.

RESULTS

The study of the anthropometric parameters showed that throughout the 8 years of follow-up, the BMI has not undergone significant changes and shows a small upward trend for both men (0.30%, sig=0.938) and women(-0.10%, sig=0.817). This same behavior was reflected by the weight in men (1.36%, sig=0.315) and in women (-0.35%, sig=0.787). In terms of physical fitness, men showed a trend towards a deterioration in this parameter over the 8 years of follow-up (ΣFitness = -1.82%, sig = 0.930), while women showed a trend towards improvement (ΣFitness = 0.96%, sig = 0.821). The same is recorded for strength and flexibility, where the data suggest that these are two of the variables that deteriorated the most over the 8 years of the study.

CONCLUSIONS

After an 8-year follow-up, no significant changes in FC parameters affected by the progression of a neurodegenerative disease such as Parkinson's disease have been identified. The 8-foot up and go test has shown correlations with the other physical tests used.

The effect of clinical pilates-based physiotherapy program for a Stiff Person Syndrome patient: a case report

The aim of the present report is to show the effects of a clinical pilates-based physiotherapy training program on physical functioning, including balance ability, flexibility, muscle strength, and pain severity in a case with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS). A 43-year-old female with a 3-year history of SPS participated in the study. Clinical pilates training exercises were performed two times per week during 8 weeks. Static balance was evaluated with One Leg Stance Test and Tandem Stance Test, dynamic balance with Functional Reach Test and lower extremity strength and endurance measured by 30-s Chair Stand Test. Berg Balance Scale was used to assess balance and fall risk, and Timed Up and Go Test was used to assess functional mobility. Pain evaluation was done by Pain Quality Assessment Scale. Flexibility was measured with tape measure, range of motion with goniometer and muscle strength with manual muscle test. Among the balance and functional mobility tests, progress has been observed in all tests, except for 30-s Chair Stand test. Improvements have been observed in patient's range of motion, flexibility, strength, pain and balance parameters. Clinical pilates-based physiotherapy program had positive effects on many physical and functional parameters of the patient and can be used as a safe exercise method in physiotherapy rehabilitation of SPS.

The influence of the Pilates method on quality of life and bone remodelling in older women: a controlled study

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the Pilates method on quality of life and bone remodeling markers in a group of older women.

METHODS

A longitudinal prospective study with intervention was performed on 40 women aged over 60 years; they were divided into two groups: one submitted to a 50-min Pilates exercise session once a week for 20 weeks (Pilates), and the other was not (Control). Both groups were compared for quality of life using the Medical Outcomes Study 36, and for bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) and Type 1 collagen C-telopeptide (CTx) bone remodeling markers.

RESULTS

The Pilates group presented improvement in the quality of life evaluation scores: physical functioning (67.50 ± 18.88 × 86.25 ± 9.58; p = 0.0232), and physical component summary (65.00 ± 14.39 × 79.70 ± 3.83; p = 0.0220). The Pilates group also presented higher scores than that of Controls after the exercise program: physical functioning (86.25 ± 9.58 × 55.50 ± 20.83, p = 0.0003), physical role (100.00 ± 0.00 × 41.25 ± 46.79, p = 0.0009), emotional role (100.00 ± 0.00 × 48.33 ± 50.12, p = 0.0046), vitality (82.50 ± 14.28 × 60.25 ± 21.43, p = 0.011), physical component summary (79.70 ± 3.83 × 54.90 ± 15.05, p < 0.0001), and emotional component summary (74.10 ± 8.37 × 54.18 ± 22.55, p = 0.0111). No changes were noted in bone remodeling markers [CTx (0.39 ± 0.26 × 0.38 ± 0.22 ng/mL) and BSAP (10.73 ± 2.40 × 11.01 ± 3.56 μg/L)] and did not differ from the Control group both before (CTx: 0.39 ± 0.26 × 0.37 ± 0.17 ng/mL; BSAP: 10.73 ± 2.40 × 10.58 ± 3.49 μg/L; p > 0.05) and after exercise (CTx: 0.38 ± 0.22 × 0.38 ± 0.22 ng/mL; BSAP: 11.01 ± 3.56 × 9.85 ± 3.12 μg/L; p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The group of women submitted to Pilates presented improved quality of life but without changes in bone remodeling.

Benefits of Pilates in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Pilates may be a beneficial method of exercise for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, no studies have critically reviewed the scientific evidence in this regard. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of Pilates as a rehabilitation strategy for PD. A systematic search of the electronic databases PubMed, PEDro, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus was conducted to identify studies related to the effect of Pilates on PD. The search timeframe ranged from the inception of each database to March 2019. The search resulted in the identification of four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and four non-RCT studies. The methodological quality of the investigations ranged from poor to fair. The descriptive analysis of the eight investigations showed that Pilates resulted in beneficial effects on fitness, balance and functional autonomy. A subsequent meta-analysis on the four RCTs indicated that Pilates was more effective than traditional training programmes in improving lower limb function. Pilates can be safely prescribed for people with mild-to-moderate PD. Preliminary evidence indicates that its practice could have a positive impact on fitness, balance and physical function. Its benefits on lower-body function appear to be superior to those of other conventional exercises. Future randomized studies with greater samples are needed to confirm these observations.

Feasibility of a dance and exercise with music programme on adults with intellectual disability

BACKGROUND

Research regarding the feasibility and effects of dancing and exercise with musical support programmes on the physical fitness of adults with intellectual disability (ID) is scarce. The purpose of this study was to provide scientific evidence regarding the feasibility of a training programme consisting of dancing and exercise with music designed for adults with ID, as well as to assess its impact on their body composition and cardiovascular and muscular fitness.

METHODS

A total of 30 adults (mean age 36.37 ± 11.24 years) with mild (n = 13), moderate (n = 16) or severe (n = 1) ID took part in a 10-week dancing and exercise with music programme. Recruitment and completion rate, adherence to the programme, participation and adverse effects were registered as measures of feasibility. The body mass index, cardiovascular endurance (6-min walk test) and muscular strength (standing long jump test) of the participants were assessed in order to determine the effects of the programme on their fitness level.

RESULTS

A 92.5% recruitment rate and a 90% completion rate were achieved. Adherence to the programme stood at 76.6%, and no adverse effects were registered. The comparison between the values obtained in the initial and final evaluations indicated the existence of positive changes in all the fitness dimensions measured.

CONCLUSION

A training programme combining dancing and exercise with music proved to be feasible when performed by adults with ID. These kind of programmes can have a positive effect on the fitness level of this specific group.

Effect of a Mat Pilates Program with TheraBand on Dynamic Balance in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: Feasibility Study and Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a physical exercise program based on Mat Pilates (MP) with TheraBand^® on the dynamic balance of a sample population diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD). After random selection, 26 participants were allocated to a MP group or a control group where they performed calisthenics exercises. Both interventions lasted 12 weeks and involved 2 weekly sessions of 60 minutes. Assessments took place at baseline, 12 weeks after the intervention started and 4 weeks after the intervention was completed using the body mass index (BMI), the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test with Wiva^® sensors, the 30 Second Chair Stand test, and the Five Times Sit to Stand test. The group that completed the MP program presented significant improvements in BMI (F_1,21 = 3.986; p = 0.038), the 30 Second Chair Stand test (F_1,21 = 6.716; p = 0.014), the Five Times Sit to Stand test (F_1,21 = 5.213; p = 0.032), and the time required to complete the TUG dynamic balance test (F_1,21 = 5.035; p = 0.035). The MP program performed by a sample population with PD led to improvements in dynamic balance, and participants in the MP group showed increased strength in the lower limbs, but such improvements were not permanent after the activity ceased.