Effects of the Pilates Method on the Elderly: Literature Review

Abstract

In Brazil the number of elderly individuals has increased significantly over the years, and studies evidence the practice of physical activity for this public in order to provide a better quality of life. From this perspective, the Pilates Method is chosen as the focus of physical exercise for this audience. The objective of this research was to analyze the effects of the Pilates Method in the elderly and used as a methodology the narrative review of literature, with articles in Portuguese, without the delimitation of the period of publication, in the SciELO, LILACS and CAPES. The search was performed with the descriptors: "Elderly", "Exercise and Movement Techniques", "Pilates Method", "Quality of Life". The total number of documents found was 134, but only five were in accordance with the purpose of this review. The results demonstrated that the method improves the functional conditioning, that is, it improves the conditioning for the activities of daily life of these elderly people and the motivation, in which it is linked to the factor mentioned above, to be able to perform activities and also to socialize with other subjects in practice of the method, become more sociable, with positive self-esteem and thus, minimizing possible isolation.