A influência do Pilates na flexibilidade de idosos: revisão integrativa

Abstract

Flexibility is the motor capacity of maximum passive physiological amplitude of a given joint movement with maximum stretching of the muscles. In order to gain flexibility, physical activities and muscle stretching must be performed globally, within these activities Pilates stands out. Objective: To evaluate the effect of the Pilates method in the flexibility of elderly people. Methods: Integrative literature review through the survey of scientific productions from 2010 to 2019. Participants over 60 years of age were included, submitted to Pilates exercises evaluating flexibility, the research was done in the following electronic databases: PubMed, Scielo and (PEDro). The PEDro scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies. Results: 65 studies were found, 62 articles were excluded, the final sample consisted of 3 articles. The studies found improved flexibility in the elderly. The average age ranged from 62 to 68 years, most were female, the sit and reach test was used to assess flexibility. As for the Pilates method, the total time of the program varied from 8 to 12 weeks, with sessions of twice a week lasting from 50 to 60 minutes. There was a heterogeneity in the intensity and type of Pilates (solo and with equipment). In the PEDro scale no study scored more than 6. Conclusion: The Pilates method improves the flexibility of the elderly. The methodological quality of the selected studies was moderate to low, so more studies with better methodological quality are needed to guide evidence-based practice.