G. Rodríguez-Fuentes

Effects of Pilates method in physical fitness on older adults. A systematic review

Pilates method is employed for physical and mental conditioning. Elderly people could be benefited from a patterned and regulated conditioning work based on Pilates method. We performed a systematic review to assess the evidence on the effects of Pilates method in physical fitness on older adults. Our search included the following databases: MEDLINE-PubMed, Scopus and CINAHL Plus with Full Text via EBSCO and SPORTDiscus databases (up to April 2014). A summary of the results was performed using a best evidence synthesis and was reported according to the systematic review method proposed by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale was used to assess the methodology quality of selected studies. Seventeen experimental studies were included in this review. Fourteen were randomized controlled trials (RCT) and three clinical controlled trials (CCT). Quality scores according to PEDro indicate low quality of the included studies (range 1–6, mean 3.8 ± 1.2). The most studied components related to physical fitness were neuromotor fitness (n = 11), muscle strength (n = 8), cardiorespiratory endurance (n = 4), body composition (n = 4) and flexibility (n = 4). Results indicate that Pilates method seems to present positive effects in neuromotor fitness, especially in static and dynamic balance. Related to the other components of physical fitness (cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle strength, body composition and flexibility), contradictory results were observed. The Pilates method indicates to be an appropriate exercise modality in order to improve balance on older adults. Nevertheless, more intervention research is needed to build a solid knowledge base about the health benefits of Pilates method on older people, especially regarding the other components of physical fitness.

Implementación de la metodología del contrato de aprendizaje en la totalidad de una materia de fisioterapia: opinión de los alumnos

Resultados. El alumnado resalto, de forma positiva, su opcion libre por el contrato de aprendizaje, el apoyo recibido del profesorado a lo largo de todo el proceso, la realizacion y entrega de las evidencias exigidas, el beneficio del trabajo realizado para superar la materia, el respeto por los criterios de evaluacion firmados, el proceso de evaluacion desarrollado, la consideracion como justa de la calificacion final obtenida y la alta valoracion del profesorado. De forma negativa se ha mencionado la mayor carga de trabajo en comparacion con la metodologia tradicional.