In a busy society such as ours, it is understandable that we often neglect parts of our body that are strained in the rush of our day-to-day lives. From sitting all day grinding at a computer to juggling the needs of a busy family, we often add stress and tension to a key point in our bodies: our back. Engaging in treatments and exercises, even for a small portion of your day, can help alleviate this pain that builds the back. Pilates is a great form of exercise/treatment that can soothe and strengthen our back, allowing us to handle our busy days with a lot less discomfort.
Pilates focuses on a relationship of flexibility and strengthening. In focusing on these exercises, the back can achieve more mobility, allowing the spine to align in a more comfortable and correct position (Mackay). Mobility training through Pilates can provide a lot of stability and strength to other areas of the torso, allowing the back to receive proper support and reduce any tension in the area.
Back pain can often be associated with a lack of support in other parts of the body, such as abdominal and pelvic muscles. Strengthening the entire core and body through Pilates can directly lessen pain experienced in the back. Pilates increases the body’s muscular support which helps offload joints, leading to a decreased amount of tension and pain in important structures in the body such as the back.
Overall mobility improvement through Pilates aids in how we can control our bodies on a daily basis. A relationship exists between the brain and the muscles in the body, that is trained through repetition of controlled movements. Control of these connections help during our normal full body activities we engage in throughout the day, whether it be carrying and lifting groceries, childcare, and more.
Better control prevents injury in the long run. Pilates can often help us notice the movements we perform in everyday activities that may be negatively impacting the spine and back muscles, and instead teaches proper form and muscle focus to ease tension in these areas – even if we are not performing an “exercise” related activity (Glosten). Additionally, Pilates improves posture. For those of us who work at a desk or often lead sedentary lifestyles, back pain is often a result of our poor posture while seated. Posture issues can also impact active and competitive individuals who push their body’s without a balance between flexibility and strengthening. Pilates can help one focus on the proper posture to alleviate tension on the spine, reducing pain experienced in that region overtime (Manheim).
Pilates is a great option especially for those living with chronic pain, because it offers a low impact exercise option. From those who experience minor pain to those with more intense difficulties and complications, Pilates is a perfect balance of achieving flexibility and strength while also being gentle enough for all lifestyles and existing conditions.
It is key in Pilates exercises to not overdo it and “push it and sweat until you drop.” The focus is on movement, concentration, and stable breathing. Pilates is a release of tension and pain, and not a cause. In many other forms of exercise, the movement and load can often increase back pain. Pilates has a benefit of being able to alter to more low impact movements to only focus on positions that relieve pain (Health Engine). It provides the fix to the pain experienced in the back, while also acting as a treatment for the pain as well.
Altogether, Pilates is a fantastic exercise option to alleviate and lessen back pain for an individual of any lifestyle.
References:
https://www.hss.edu/playbook/pilates-can-help-manage-lower-back-pain/ https://www.hss.edu/playbook/pilates-can-help-manage-lower-back-pain/
https://www.hopeinstilled.org/106/Pilates
https://www.spine-health.com/wellness/yoga-pilates-tai-chi/pilates-exercise-and-back-pain
https://healthengine.com.au/info/pilates-for-back-pain#C4
https://www.pilatesanytime.com/Pilates-Blog/1176/Benefits-of-Pilates-for-Back-Pain
