Effect of 12-Week Pilates Exercises on Reaction Time of Male Patients with Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Introduction: Parkinson's disease is common in old age, with many motor and non-motor complications. The purpose of the extant study was to compare the effects of Pilates and Tai Chi exercises on the reaction time of male patients with Parkinson's disease.

Method: The present study was conducted based on a field study through pretest and posttest of two training groups and one control group. The statistical population comprised 106 men suffering from Parkinson's. The sample size was calculated using a purposive and convenient sampling method; 45 subjects (with an age average of 64.72±7.29) were chosen and then assigned to two Tai Chi and Pilates exercise groups and one control group. The data were collected through scales, chronometers, Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q). Reaction time tests were performed for all three groups. Training groups did exercises in three one-hour sessions per week (for 12 weeks). Data analysis was done through SPSS-21 software.

Results: Findings indicated no difference between the effects of Pilates and Tai Chi exercises on the simple reaction time (SRT) (P>0.05). The main effect of stage and the interactive inter-stage effect were significant in the SRT group. This result showed a significant difference between the three groups' performance in SRT. In the posttest stage, the difference between the two training groups was more than the control group, and the Pilates group obtained the lowest mean value (540.66) among the three groups. Moreover, there was a significant difference between the effects of Pilates and Tai Chi exercises on the selective reaction time. Three studied groups performed differently in selective reaction time (P<0.05). There was a low difference between groups within the pretest stage, and the Pilates group indicated the shortest selective reaction time (958.4). However, the difference between the two training groups was more than the control group within the posttest stage, and the Pilates group obtained the lowest mean value (871.60).

Conclusion: According to the results, both traditional Tai Chi and Pilates exercise positively affected the improvement of selective reaction time. Hence, it is suggested to use the mentioned exercises to improve the performance of patients who have Parkinson's disease.