Effects of Stabilization-based Pilates Exercise on Gait and Balance in Women With Flexible Pesplanus

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Flexible Flatfoot
• Interventions: Behavioral: core-lower extremity Pilates Training Group; Other: Non-Training Group

• Registration Number: NCT06583434
• Lead Sponsor: Hyun Ju Kim

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial was to determine if stabilization-based Pilates exercises could improve gait and balance in women with flexible flatfoot.

The main questions it aimed to answer were:

Did Pilates training improve gait parameters in women with flexible flatfoot? Did Pilates training reduce balance instability in these participants?

Researchers compared the Pilates training group to a non-training group. The results showed significant improvements in gait and balance for those who participated in the Pilates training.

Participants:

Completed twice-weekly Pilates sessions for 8 weeks. Underwent pre- and post-intervention assessments of gait and balance.

Detailed Description

Study object This randomized controlled trial aims to assess the effects of stabilization-based Pilates exercises on gait and balance in women with flexible flatfoot. The study focuses on determining whether a specific Pilates program can provide non-invasive rehabilitation for improving gait patterns and reducing balance instability.

Participants The study will include 22 healthy women with flexible flatfoot who have no congenital deformities or diseases of the feet, knees and have a navicular drop of ≥10 mm. The participants will be recruited from "Clinical Pilates" studio in Busan city. Women with bilateral flatfoot (n=22) will be randomly allocated to either the Pilates training group (PTG, n=11) or the non-training group (NTG, n=11).

Outcome measure gait assessment and data acquisition: Participants undergo several practice walks to familiarize themselves with the gait assessment. Three records are averaged once they show a normal gait pattern. The assessment uses measurements from both legs and is conducted in a non-distracting environment.

Seven 3D infrared motion capture cameras (Vicon camera MX-T20, Oxford Metrics, Oxford, UK) and 16 circular reflective markers (14-mm diameter) are used to acquire the data for the gait assessment. The reflective markers are attached to the anterior superior iliac spine, posterior superior iliac spine, lateral mid-thigh, lateral femoral epicondyle, mid-shin, lateral malleolus, second metatarsus, and heel of both the left and right legs. The height, body weight, and width of knee and ankle joints are measured and entered. Gait analysis includes temporal parameters, such as foot-off, step time, stride time, walking speed, and cadence. Kinematic data are collected using Vicon plug-in gait system (Oxford Metrics) at a sampling frequency of 100 Hz.

balance assessment and data acquisition: The participants are instructed to stand with their arms crossed in front of their chest, with one leg supported and one leg raised with the knee at a 90° angle. Participants hold that standing position for 40 seconds. Three successful attempts are recorded for each participant. Measurements are taken for both legs, and the participants are given sufficient time to rest between each stage of the experiment.

For Center of Pressure (COP) measurement, data from 40 seconds of single leg support on a force platform (AMTI-OR6, Watertown, MA, USA) are utilized. The data are calculated and assessed as time series data. COP sway variability is assessed based on the Root Mean Sqaure (RMS) in Anterior-Posterior (AP) and Medial-Lateral (ML) directions, while AP and ML components of COP velocity and range are also assessed. Kinematic data are collected using the Vicon Plug-in Gait system at a sampling frequency of 100 Hz.

Exercise intervention:

The exercise intervention consists of two sessions each week, for a total of 16 sessions over an 8-week period. Each training session is structured into eight sets, totaling 50 minites. This includes a 5-min warm-up period, followed by 40-min of the main exercise component, and concluding with a 5-min cool-down phase. The Pilates training is supervised by an instructor with 15 years of experience and a professional Pilates certification.

Statistical analysis IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows (version 28.0; IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., USA) is used to conduct descriptive statistical analyses, including means and standard deviations. Statistical significance is set at p\<0.05.

Differences in mean values between the groups for each temporal parameter will be assessed using independent samples t-tests. Additionally, due to the small sample size, non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U test) will be conducted. Furthermore, paired samples t-tests will be used for within-group pre-test and post-test comparisons.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2024-01-02
• Primary Completion: 2024-03-08
• Study Completion: 2024-03-30
• Study First Submitted: 2024-08-29
• Status Verified: 2024-09
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-09-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-09-02
• Study First Posted: 2024-09-04
• Last Update Posted: 2024-09-04

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 22

Inclusion Criteria

• Bilateral navicular drop of ≥10 mm

Exclusion Criteria

• Clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease
• Severe heart conditions (heart failure, myocardial infarction)
• History of knee, ankle or hip injuries within the last 3 months
• Chronic lung disease
• Pregnancy
• Congenital Foot Deformity ( Polydactyly, Syndactyly)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Pilates-Training Group	core-lower extremity Pilates Training Group	Participants in this group will receive twice-weekly Pilates sessions focusing on core and lower extremity stabilization exercises. Each session will last for 50 minutes and the intervention will continue for 8 weeks. The goal of this intervention is to improve gait patterns and balance in women with flexible flatfoot.
Non-Training Group	Non-Training Group	Participants in this group will not receive any specific intervention during the study period. They will continue their usual activities without any additional exercises provided by the study

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in step time	Baseline and after 8 weeks	Step time was measured in seconds using a 3D motion capture system.
Change in stride time	Baseline and after 8 weeks	Stride time was measured in seconds using a 3D motion capture system.
Change in walking speed	Baseline and after 8 weeks	Walking speed was measured in meters per second using a 3D motion capture system.
Change in cadence	Baseline and after 8 weeks	Cadence was measured in steps per minute using a 3D motion capture system.
Change in foot off	Baseline and after 8 weeks	Foot off was measured as a percentage of the gate cycle using a 3D motion capture system.
Change in balance stability	Baseline and after 8 weeks	Balance was assessed using a single-leg stance test, measuring the center of pressure(COP) sway in both anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) directions.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Busan University of Foreign Studies; 🇰🇷 Busan, Korea, Republic of