sepide jalali; Hassan Mohammadzade; jalal Dehghanizade
Abstract
Introduction: Menopause is the beginning of a new era in a woman's life. This period, like all other stages of life, has positive and negative aspects. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Pilates exercises on serum BDNF level, balance, and quality of life in menopausal and non-menopausal ...
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Introduction: Menopause is the beginning of a new era in a woman's life. This period, like all other stages of life, has positive and negative aspects. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Pilates exercises on serum BDNF level, balance, and quality of life in menopausal and non-menopausal women.Methods: The current study was a quasi-experimental research with a pre-test and post-test design that included two experimental and two control groups. The sample consisted of 60 menopausal and non-menopausal women (age 45.77±1.77 years) who were voluntarily selected and randomly assigned into four groups of 15 people. Fasting blood was drawn from all the participants 48 hours before the start of training and after the end of the training period. Then both experimental groups performed Pilates exercises for 12 weeks, three sessions per week and each session lasted 60 minutes. Also, the participants similarly performed the Y dynamic balance test and completed the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) questionnaire in pre-test and post-test.Results: The results of Mixed ANOVA showed a significant difference between the pre-test and the post-test of menopausal and non-menopausal women in relevant variables, so it can be said that probably 91%, 76%, and 94% of the changes in serum BDNF levels, balance and quality of life of menopausal and non-menopausal women are influenced by Pilates exercises. However, no significant effect was observed in the relevant variables of control groups (P≤0.05).Conclusion: Pilates exercises can be an effective strategy to improve serum BDNF levels, balance, and quality of life in menopausal and non-menopausal women.
Niloufar Emamian; Ali Shafizadeh; Masoud Etemadifar
Abstract
Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system that affects the motor and sensory systems to control balance while standing and walking. This study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of proprioceptive ...
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Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system that affects the motor and sensory systems to control balance while standing and walking. This study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of proprioceptive training on balance, fatigue, and quality of life of women with MS.Methods: The statistical population of this research included 20- to 50-year-old women with MS and a total score of 1 to 4 on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) that are members of the Isfahan MS Association. From this population, 30 volunteers were selected conveniently and assigned to experimental and control groups. Participants of both groups completed the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) tests before starting the training program. The experimental group performed 60-minute proprioceptive training for eight weeks and three sessions a week, and the control group performed their daily activities during this period. After 8 weeks of training, both experimental and control groups repeated the previous tests. The data were analyzed using independent and paired t-tests at the significant level of 0.05.Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference in balance, fatigue, and quality of life of the experimental group in the post-test compared with the pre-test (P<0.05). Also, the comparison of the post-test results of the two experimental and control groups showed a significant difference in the balance and quality of life of MS patients (P<0.05).Conclusion: Overall, eight weeks of proprioceptive training improved the balance and quality of life of MS patients, but it was not effective in reducing their fatigue. Therefore, the use of proprioceptive training is recommended for the well-being of MS patients.
