The Effect of a Selective Pilates Program on Functional Balance and Falling Risk in Patients with Parkinson's Disease

Parkinsonism is a progressive disorder of the nervous system for which only symptomatic treatment exists. Balance dysfunction and postural instability observed in persons with Parkinson’s disease are important components of the disability.
To investigate the effect of a selective 8-week Pilates exercises on the functional balance and falling risk in patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease.
This randomized controlled trial included 30 patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease who were selected as subjects non-randomly and purposely, and assigned into exercise groups or control group. Participants in exercise and control groups attended an 8-week Pilate’s program or walking program respectively. Functional balance and falling risk was evaluated using Fullerton balance scale (FAB) and timed up and go test (TUG), before and after interventions. In order to analyze the data paired samples T-test and independent samples T-test and SPSS version 22 were used.
Attending an eight-week Pilates exercise was associated with a significant improvement in functional balance and falling risk (P = 0.001), while the difference of the functional balance and falling risk, before and after performing the protocol, in control group was not significant (P = 0.364). Also the difference between the results of functional balance and falling risk scale scores of two groups in post-test were significant (P = 0.001).
Given that Pilate’s exercises involve both musculoskeletal system and nervous system, can be an effective intervention to improving balance and reducing falling risk, especially in people with postural control disabilities.