The Effect of Eight Weeks of Exposure to Sunlight and Home-Based Pilates Training on Vitamin D Levels, Resiliency and Sleep Quality in Women with Multiple Sclerosis

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of exposure to sunlight and Home-Based Pilates Training on vitamin D levels, resilience and sleep quality in women with multiple sclerosis.

On total, 44 people with MS with a disease severity ranging from two to five between the ages 25 to 40 years were purposefully selected and randomly divided into three groups of home-based pilates training (n = 15), outdoor pilates training (n = 15), and control (n = 14). The training program consisted of three sessions per week for a period of eight weeks, consisting of two parts, home-based pilates training and outdoor pilates training. For the exercise in an open outdoor setting, the subjects performed an exercise program between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM. The training program was performed using the DVD that was provided to them. Resilience, sleep quality and serum vitamin D indices of patients with MS were measured before and after eight weeks of Outdoor and Home-Based Pilates Training. To analyze the data, analysis of covariance and Banferroni post hoc test were used.

Comparing the results in two stages showed that there was a significant difference between resilience, sleep quality and serum vitamin D indices of women with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the study groups (P ≤ 0.05).

The results indicate that people with MS can improve their vitamin D levels and psychological indicators by using Pilates exercises outdoors and at home at lower costs.