Effect of Pilates Exercises on Improving the Muscle Function in Women with Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central neural system that causes weakness muscular. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the eight-week pilates exercise on strength and endurance of shoulder girdle, abdomen, and paw muscles. In the present semi-experimental research, thirty women with MS were selected by purposeful sampling method and divided into two groups (of 15 persons); pilates exercise and control group. Exercise program included eight-week pilates exercise, three sessions each week and each session takes 4o_60 minutes. T-test was used for statistical analysis (p< 0.05). There was a significant increase in the shoulder girdle, abdomen, and paw muscles of exercise group compared to control group after eight weeks (P> 0.05). The results showed that pilates exercise is effective on strength and endurance of MS patients' muscles and these patients can do pilates exercise to preserve and increase their muscles’ performance.