ZAC SLAY - Franco's Athletic Club

Pilates
for Back Pain
Pilates exercises have become commonplace everywhere from
fitness television channels to physical therapy centers. Instructors
and enthusiasts alike attribute that popularity to Pilates’ ability
to build strong, pain-free aesthetic bodies. Additionally, more
and more people are practicing Pilates for its ability to work well
for those who suffer from back pain. Postural corrections, core
strength and stabilization and body awareness are the foundation
to Pilates’ success in dealing with back pain.
The key to the effectiveness of Pilates is in its approach to exercise.
Pilates concentrates on underlying structural imbalances in the body
that often lead to back pain such as poor posture, weak core support,
pelvic instability, and muscular imbalances. Pilates instructors are
mindful of how the body is aligned, meaning, how the body parts
relate to one another while they move. It’s when the alignment is off
that muscular imbalances and stress on the spine occurs. Performing
specific Pilates exercises in correct form ideally creates a muscular
balance that allows people to move much more easily.
I have a degenerative back problem. I injured my lower back at age
18 and by my 56th birthday I was unable to walk more than .05 miles
without having spasms and terrible pain. It took months of work but
restorative Pilates has given me the tools to increase my mobility. I can
now walk over 4 miles a day with some weight training and I have
shed 37 pounds. I have been to Orthopedic and Neurosurgeons who
were very supportive but unable to produce the same results. Kerrie’s
coaching with a solid, consistent work ethic has given me amazing new
mobility and far less back pain.
Sam Hawkins
Pilates is best known for its work with the core, the deep muscles
that support and stabilize the back. The entire torso, including the
muscles that line the spine and the pelvic floor, is strengthened
to keep the body upright comfortably and effortlessly. A strong,
well-supported spine allows for a full range of motion forwards,
backwards, rotating and leaning side to side. Pilates exercises are
designed to allow all practitioners, beginners to advanced, to work
on strength and flexibility of the spine.
Back pain may occur as a result of a specific injury or a lack of
awareness of poor posture and movement patterns. In either case,
pain is the signal that something needs to be corrected. Bringing
awareness to how you move can help to correct that pain. Because
Pilates requires your full focus, you begin to build an awareness
of your body, how it moves and its alignment. After a while, you
carry that careful attention forward, out of the Pilates studio and
into your everyday life. You become mindful of your posture and
movements throughout the day, improving your back and bringing
about constant change.
Check with your healthcare professional before beginning any
exercise program. There are many causes of back pain, and Pilates
may not be appropriate for all types of pain. However, if you are
cleared for exercise, Pilates can become a pain
free way of life as well as a way of exercising.
Article Contribution
Kerrie Ann Frey, Pilates Instructor
985.792.0273
I have always been a very active individual. When I developed scoliosis
in my mid-thirties, I added Pilates to my daily regime. I became stronger,
more flexible and, most importantly, increased my body awareness.
Recently, I have been recovering from a debilitating back injury. Knowing
the benefits of Pilates, I started training one-on-one with Kerrie Ann.
Her extensive knowledge and commitment have been paramount in
my recovery. Under her guidance, I have begun to regain my strength,
flexibility and balance. She has helped me become even more aware of
body position throughout the day, which is key when rehabbing a back
injury. My physician and PT said that my being active in Pilates before
my injury probably helped lessen the pain normally seen with my type
of injury, helped me avoid surgery and sped up my recovery.
Juliee Montelaro
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