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.