Is high intensity Pilates exercise treatment beneficial for people with Parkinson´s disease?

Abstract

Aim: to compare the effects of a therapeutic physical exercise programme based on mat Pilates method carried out at two intensities in a population with Parkinson´s disease. Method: 32 participants with Parkinson's disease were randomly assigned to the low-intensity Mat-Pilates group (n=16) and to the high-intensity Mat-Pilates group (n=16) with both interventions lasting 12 weeks. Lower limb strength (30 Second-Chair-Stand-test), gait speed (Timed-Up and Go), and feasibility were assessed. Results: A total of 29 participants attended 80% of the intervention sessions. The participation rate was 91.14% and 70.05% in the low intensity and high intensity groups, respectively. This research shows that after the intervention there was a significant increase in lower limb strength (low-intensity 8.31% vs high-intensity 34.25%) and gait speed (low-intensity 12.12% vs high-intensity 19.35%) for both groups, although the improvement in the high-intensity group was statistically greater than the low-intensity group. Conclusions: The Pilates method is evidenced as a comprehensive rehabilitation strategy in the treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, an exercise regime based on the Pilates method at high intensity seems to lead to significant improvements in lower limb strength and an improvement in gait speed for this type of patient. Keywords: Physical therapy, Neurodegenerative disorders, Older adults, Therapeutic exercise, Pilates Method, Parkinson´s disease