Effects of 8 weeks of mat-based Pilates exercise on gait in chronic stroke patients.
SuYeon Roh, Ho Jong Gil, Sukhoon Yoon
PMID 27799706WHAT IT FOUND
In chronic stroke patients, the Pilates group showed faster walking and longer strides after 8 weeks, but imbalance between sides did not improve.
Key findings
01The Pilates group improved walking speed, while the control group did not show the same improvement.
02The Pilates group showed increased stride length, walking speed, and hip and knee range of motion.
03The asymmetry indexes did not show significant improvement.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only 20 poststroke participants, and the authors note that the small sample size may explain why asymmetry did not improve. The paper does not report how randomisation was concealed or whether participants, therapists, or assessors were blinded. The control group received no treatment, so the study does not compare Pilates with usual rehabilitation. The Pilates program included many exercises, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated. Participants were excluded if they were involved in other studies or rehabilitation programs, so the results may not apply to patients receiving usual care.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that Pilates corrects asymmetrical walking in chronic stroke patients. The asymmetry indexes did not show significant improvement, and the study had only 20 participants.