Pilates method in the community: effect on the body posture of elderly women

ABSTRACT This study aimed to verify the effect of the Pilates method (PM) on the body posture of elderly women in a community. A non-randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in 40 elderly women aged between 60 and 80 years, divided equally into Intervention Group (IG) and Control Group (CG). The groups answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and were evaluated, in pre- and post-intervention moments, using biophotogrammetry, through the software SAPO. The IG performed a program of 12 Pilates exercises, twice a week, with duration of 50 minutes, for 12 weeks. A nonparametric statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney test with significance value of p<0.05. The results showed before the intervention the distance between the acromions, epicondyles and styloid process were lower in the CG, in relation to the IG; however, after the intervention, no significant difference was observed between the groups. After the intervention, a statistically significant difference was observed in the variables: distance from the superior (p=0.01) and inferior angle of scapula (p=0.02) of the IG in relation to the CG. The conclusion was that Pilates promoted a positive effect on some variables of the postural profile of the elderly women, being suitable for community groups for practice of physical activities.