Clinical trials

Pilates is one of the most popular forms of exercise among older adults worldwide. However, no study has measured how many calories a Pilates session burns or how hard the body works during it in people aged 60 and over. This information is important for exercise professionals who prescribe Pilates for health promotion goals such as weight management and cardiovascular fitness. This study will measure the energy cost and metabolic intensity of two types of Pilates - mat Pilates and equipment-based Pilates - in older adults using a portable indirect calorimetry system (Cosmed K5). Results will be compared to treadmill walking at 4.8 km/h, a well-established moderate-intensity activity. Twenty men and women aged 60 years or older with at least 6 months of continuous Pilates experience will complete three exercise sessions in a randomized order: (1) mat Pilates, (2) equipment-based Pilates, and (3) treadmill walking. Each Pilates session will consist of 9 exercises, with stretching exercises used as warm-up and cool-down and 7 strengthening exercises performed in the main portion of the session (\~50 min). Oxygen consumption, energy expenditure, heart rate, and perceived exertion will be measured throughout each session.

Urinary incontinence (UI) affects approximately 40% of postmenopausal women and is therefore considered a public health problem. Conservative treatment is recommended, and pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is considered the gold standard for this condition. However, other exercise options have been studied, such as Pilates exercises, which focus on stabilizing muscles and require voluntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles. The literature remains inconclusive regarding the effects of Pilates exercises on urinary incontinence and pelvic floor muscle function. Objective: To compare the effects of 3 months of muscle training, through PFMT and Pilates exercises, on improving UI in postmenopausal women. Methods: Twenty-four postmenopausal women with urinary incontinence will be randomized into two intervention groups: pelvic floor muscle training and mat Pilates exercises. Assessments will be conducted before and after three months of intervention and will include the following instruments: urinary incontinence and quality of life, assessed using the International Consultation of Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF) questionnaire; a 7-day voiding diary to identify potential modifiable factors related to urination and its frequency; a Pad test to identify and quantify UI; the Female Sexual Function Index to assess female sexual function; and pelvic floor muscle strength and endurance by bidigital palpation using the PERFECT test. Shapiro-Wilk tests will be used to assess normality, Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test according to parametric or nonparametric distribution, and ANCOVA will be used to compare groups post-intervention, considering a 95% confidence interval (p\<0.05). Data will be processed using SPSS 25.0.

Introduction: The aging process can result in several physiological changes, such as the loss of muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance, collectively defined as sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is considered one of the primary health challenges among older adults. To prevent this condition and improve related health outcomes, regular physical exercise is the most recommended strategy, with multicomponent exercises being particularly effective for older individuals. Pilates is another potential form of physical exercise that has gained popularity among older adults seeking to improve muscle mass, strength, and physical performance. However, significant gaps remain in the literature, with a notable lack of studies evaluating the efficacy of Pilates in improving sarcopenic outcomes. Objective: To compare the efficacy of multicomponent training programs versus Pilates in improving muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in older adults. Methods: A total of 100 older adults aged 60 to 80 years, of both sexes, will be randomized into two intervention groups: the Multicomponent Training Group (n=50) and the Pilates Group (n=50). Evaluations will be conducted at three time points: baseline (before the intervention), mid-treatment (3 months), and post-treatment (6 months). The following instruments will be used: Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) will be used to assess muscle mass. Muscle strength will be evaluated using an isokinetic dynamometer for the lower limbs and a handgrip dynamometer for the upper limbs. Physical performance will be assessed through the Brazilian version of the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), the gait speed test, and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. The Feeling Scale will be applied to determine the affective valence of the exercise programs. The Shapiro-Wilk test will be performed to check the normality of the data, Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test will be used depending on whether the distribution is parametric or non-parametric, and ANCOVA will be used to compare the groups post-intervention, considering a 95% confidence interval (p\<0.05). The data will be analyzed using SPSS 25.0 software.