Functional Training and Mat Pilates Are Effective in Improving Cardiorespiratory Capacity and Strength in People With Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial With Follow-up

Moratelli, JA, Corrêa, CL, Sonza, A, and Guimarães, ACdA. Functional training and mat pilates are effective in improving cardiorespiratory capacity and strength in people with Parkinson's disease: a randomized clinical trial with follow-up. J Strength Cond Res 39(9): e1119-e1128, 2025-The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of 2 12-week interventions with functional training and Mat Pilates on cardiorespiratory capacity, lower limb strength, and handgrip strength in people with Parkinson's disease, both in the short term and in the long term. Randomized clinical trial with people with Parkinson's randomized into 3 groups: functional training ( n = 12), Mat Pilates ( n = 11), and control group ( n = 12), as well as 11 healthy individuals matched by sex and age, constituting the healthy reference group. The exercise groups received 2 60-minute sessions per week for 12 weeks. Assessments were conducted before and after the interventions with all participants and included submaximal functional capacity, handgrip strength, and lower limb muscle strength. Significance level p ≤ 0.05. In the intragroup comparison of functional training and Mat Pilates, the results indicated significant improvements in cardiorespiratory capacity and lower limb muscle strength in both the short and long terms ( p < 0.001), as well as short-term improvement in right handgrip strength ( p = 0.003). In the control group, a deterioration in right leg extension strength was observed in the short term and at the follow-up ( p = 0.038). The study suggests that 12 weeks of functional training and Mat Pilates are effective in improving cardiorespiratory fitness, lower limb muscle strength, and right-hand handgrip strength in individuals with Parkinson's disease. These benefits are particularly relevant as they may contribute to maintaining autonomy, mobility, and quality of life in this population, reinforcing the importance of physical exercise as a complementary treatment for Parkinson's disease.