The Effect of Selected Pilates Exercises on Thigh Muscle Strength and Depression in Elderly Women

Muscle weakness is one of the main factors which results in physical complaints and depression in elderly women. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a period of selected Pilate’s exercises on thigh muscle strength and depression among elderly women.
In the present quasi-experimental study, 23 healthy elderly women between 55 and 60 years old volunteered from elderly women in Isfahan. The participants were selected through non-probability inconvenient sampling and divided randomly into two groups; one experimental group (N=12, age 56.75± 4.61 years old, weight 61.75 ± 5.41 Kg and height 161.83± 7.01 Cm) and one control group (N=11, age 59.09 ± 10.20 years old, weight 62.78 ± 2.81Kg and height 158.81 ± 5.03 Cm). The experimental group was treated using Pilate’s exercises for 60 minutes, three times a week for 8 weeks, however, the control group received no treatment and was engaged in daily routine activities. Muscle strength was measured using a manual Dynamometer (Power Track II Commander TMJ Tec medical) and rate of depression was obtained with Beck Questionnaire. All of the above variables were measured before and after treatment (Pilate’s exercises). Data were analyzed by paired- samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance at a significant level of P
The results showed that there was a significant improvement on scores obtained from the muscle strength measurement (quadriceps, hamstring) in the experimental group after 8 weeks of exercise, whereas no significant improvement was observed in the control group. The results also suggest a significant difference in the depression scores of the experimental group after treatment, but there was no significant difference in the control group.
Considering the results of the current study, it seems that the selected Pilate’s exercises improve muscle strength and depression among elderly women. Therefore, it could be considered as an effective intervention.