Introduction: With aging, many changes such as postural deformities, balance and reducing strength occurs in elders, which can result in their increased risk. The aims of this investigation was the effect of a Period of Selected Pilates exercise progressive on factors of strength and balance of healthy elderly women.
Methodology: In this study, 23 healthy elderly women were selected among volunteered elderly women and availability and divided randomly into two groups; one experimental group (12 participants, aged 60.25±4.63, weighing 67.66±8.73 kilograms, with the height of 160.71±5.87centimeters) and one control (11 participants, aged 63.09±7.28, weighing 60.80±12.64, with the height of 158.95±5.25 centimeters). Experimental group received the exercises for 8 weeks, but the control group have daily routine activities. Para spinal lumbar muscle strength was measured with manual dynamometer, Static and dynamic balances were measured in second respectively by a one-leg-standing test and a TUG test in two stages, before and after the exercises. The data were analyzed through Analysis of T Independent and Dependent at the significance level of P≤0.05.
Results: The results showed that there was a significant improvement on the muscle strength lumbar Para spinal of the experimental group after 8 weeks of receiving exercises (P= 0.043), significant difference in scores between pre- and post-test static and dynamic balance was observed in the experimental group (P=0/001), whereas no such significant improvement was observed in the control group.
Discussion: The results of the current study seem that the Pilates exercise has a significant effect on improving muscle strength lumbar Para spinal and balance among elderly women and risk falling and reduce medical costs associated with it.