The Effect of Yoga and Pilates Exercises on the Motor Ability of Female Elderly during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Elham Dehghan Niri; Mahmoud Sheikh; shahzad Tahmasebi Boroujeni

doi:10.18502/tbj.v21i3.10896

Elham Dehghan Niri M.Sc., Department of Motor Behavior and Sport Psychology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Tehran, Iran
Mahmoud Sheikh Professor, Department of Motor Behavior and Sport Psychology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Tehran, Iran.
shahzad Tahmasebi Boroujeni Associated Professor, Department of Motor Behavior and Sport Psychology Faculty of Physical Education & Sport Sciences, University of Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/tbj.v21i3.10896

Keywords: Motor Ability, Yoga, Pilates, Elderly, COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: The present study aims to investigate the effect of yoga and Pilates exercises on the motor ability of female elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest design along with a control group. The statistical population was all the female elderly of Yazd city in elderly care and welfare centers. For statistical sampling, by referring to elderly care and welfare centers, a list of elderly (over 60 years old) of Yazd city was prepared and those who were willing to participate in the study were selected and randomly divided into 3 groups of 12 people, including yoga, Pilates, and control groups. Measurement tools included a motor ability test. The yoga and Pilates groups performed 6-week interventions, the control group did not perform any exercise interventions during the study, and only pre-test and post-test were taken from this group.

Results: The results of the LSD test showed that the motor ability variable in the post-test had the best performance in the Pilates group. The results of the correlated t-test showed that the two Pilates and yoga groups in the post-test showed better motor ability compared to the pre-test. However, in the control group, there was no significant change from pre-test to post-test.

Conclusion: By examining these studies, it can be said that functional interventions will probably have a positive effect on the performance of fine movements of different groups, especially the elderly.