Pilates method in personal autonomy, static balance and quality of life of elderly females.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the Pilates method on the personal autonomy, static balance and quality of life in healthy elderly females. METHOD Fifty-two elderly females were selected and submitted to evaluation protocols to assess functional autonomy (GDLAM), static balance (Tinetti) and quality of life (WHOQOL-OLD). The Pilates group (PG: n=27) participated in Pilates exercises twice weekly for eight weeks. Descriptive statistics were compiled using the Shapiro-Wilk test. The level of significance was considered to be p< or =0.05. RESULTS The dependent Student-t test demonstrated significant post-test differences in the Pilates group in the following areas balance (Delta%=4.35%, p=0.0001) and General Index of GDLAM (Delta%=-13.35%, p=0.0001); the Wilcoxon test demonstrated significant post-test differences in the quality of life Index (Delta%=1.26%, p=0.0411). CONCLUSION The Pilates method can offer significant improvement in personal autonomy, static balance and quality of life.