Author and graduation date: David Wylie HALL, September, 1998

Committee members: Jeanne F. Nichols (Chair), Denise Wiksten, Judy Price

Thesis title: The Effect of Pilates-Based Training On Balance and Gait in an Elderly Population

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Pilates-based training on balance and gait in an elderly population. Thirty-one men and women ranging in age from 65 to 81 years (Mean + SD = 69.5 + 4.1 yr) began the study, and 24 subjects completed the 10-week training program and all post treatment measures. Subjects were randomly assigned to a traditional strength plus flexibility training group (SPF, n=9), a Pilates-based training group (PBT, n=9), or a no exercise control group (CON, n=6). Pre and post-training measurements of static and dynamic balance were performed on the Kinesthetic Ability Training (KAT 2000) balance platform. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used as a field measure of balance and gait. Three (group) x 2 (pre/post) repeated measures ANOVA with the alpha level set at p<0.10 demonstrated a significant group x time interaction (p=.028) for static balance on the KAT, with PBT improving more than the SPF group. A significant time effect (p= 0.066) on the KAT, as well as the BBS (p =.009), demonstrated that all three groups improved in dynamic balance. These results indicate that PBT is an effective mode of exercise for improving static or postural balance in elderly adults, whereas the complexity of dynamic balance makes it difficult to measure and determine the effectiveness of this or any training protocol. These results suggest that PBT can also improve dynamic balance in elderly adults, but more research in this area is needed to determine the best tool to assess this complex motor skill.

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