Feasibility and effect of a Pilates program on the clinical, physical and sleep parameters of adolescents with anorexia nervosa.

Background And Purpose: Anorexia nervosa (AN) becomes chronic, with high physical, psychological and social morbidity and high mortality without early and effective treatment. The impact of physical exercise as a coadjutant to conventional treatment in this clinical population has been studied with favorable results. Although a Pilates program could be beneficial for patients with AN, no study has analyzed its feasibility and effects in adolescents with AN. Therefore, this study evaluated the safety of a Pilates program and investigated the feasibility and effect in adolescents with AN.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective quasi-experimental study, body composition, blood analysis, sedentary time, physical activity and time of sleep, and physical fitness were measured objectively before and after a 10-week Pilates supervised program.

Results: Twelve female adolescents with AN (14.6 ± 1.7 years old) completed the program, with a session attendance rate of 96%, a persistence rate of 100%. There were significant increases in height, plasma calcium and sleep efficiency. Significant decreases in plasma follitropin, sleep duration and, duration and number of night perturbations were observed.

Conclusion: A Pilates program is safe and feasible in adolescents with AN when they have a controlled and stable weight, and such a program could be a viable alternative among treatment programs to achieve better sleep quality.