The Effects of Pilates Mat Exercises on Elderly Women's Basic Physical Strength and Lumbar Muscle Strength

Abstract

In modern society, the average life spans of peopleare being extended thanks to rapid economic growth,improvement in living standards, and medical tech -nology development. The ratio of elderly persons tothe entire population that was 11.0% in 2010 is ex-pected to become 14.3% in 2018 so that our societybecomes a 'aged society' and become 20.8% in 2026 sothat our society becomes a 'super-aged society'.Therefore, population aging is coming to the fore asa serious social problem(1).Such rapid increases in aged populations can causemajor social problems in many aspects of the societysuch as decreases in the working population result-ing from aging and increases in medical expensesand welfare budgets. In addition, various elderlyperson problems will occur including physical, social,and psychological problems. Out of the entire agedpopulation, 81.5% have pain and body parts wherepain mainly occurs are the knee at a ratio of 62.3%and the lumbus at a ratio of 60.6% indicating thatmusculoskeletal system problems account for a largeportion of elderly person problems(2).Due to the aging phenomenon appearing in elderlypersons' musculoskeletal systems, calcificationoccurs in tendons and ligaments and the widths orsizes of muscles decrease so that muscle strengthand muscle endurance decline(3). Muscle strengthgradually decreases by approximately 10% in 50s, byapproximately 15% per decade in the 60s and 70s andby approximately 30% per decade thereafter(4).These declines in muscle strength and the skeletoncause diseases such as low back pain. The recom -mendation revised by American College of SportsMedicine in 2010 encourages elderly persons to performactive medium intensity aerobic exercise for fivedays per week or perform medium or high ntensityphysical activities for 3∼5 days per week to maintainhealth and improve functional abilities(5). Among low back pain related exercise programs,pilates exercise is body stabilization exercise that notonly develops muscles in the abdomen, the thora -columbar region, the buttocks, and the inner side ofthe thigh to straighten the vertebrae and the pelviswhich are the center of the body but also preventscoronary artery diseases and reduces the risk ofrespiratory diseases(6). Pilates largely comprises mat