Back pain is an incredibly common problem, and many are now looking into Pilates for back pain to reduce their symptoms.
NHS England report that back pain is the largest single cause of disability in the UK, so it’s no wonder that so many are looking for options to both prevent it and reduce their pain levels.
Whilst lifestyle factors such as poor posture and stress can contribute to back pain, and correcting these will help. Pilates for back pain is a gentle, effective solution for ongoing management and has lots of other benefits too.
What is Pilates?
Pilates is a system of exercises developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s, focused on controlled movements, core strength and alignment.
Today there are many more modern types of Pilates, as well as the more traditional form that was first created by Joseph Pilates. You can read more about these in our blog about the different types of Pilates and how to work out which one is right for you.
How does Pilates help with back pain?
If you’re wondering why you should start Pilates for back pain, here are my top four reasons.
Pilates strengthens core muscles
Pilates can really help back pain by addressing the root cause of the issue. Weak core muscles can contribute to back strain and the pain that this brings, as the role of the core is to support the spine.
By strengthening your core muscles, Pilates will allow your body to be better supported, and in time will reduce back pain significantly.
Pilates improves posture
There is a strong link between poor posture and chronic back pain, so improving your posture now is a great way to prevent future problems and help deal with current pain too.
Pilates is great for promoting spinal alignment to improve posture, as well as increasing your awareness of your body to help you remember to stay upright, and consciously alter your posture throughout the day.
Pilates increases flexibility and mobility
Another great reason to start Pilates for back pain is that it gently stretches and mobilises the spine and other surrounding muscles.
Back pain can be caused by tightness in the lower back muscles, or even in the hips and hamstrings, so working on your flexibility and mobility can be a great help in easing back pain, and Pilates is a great way to do that.
Pilates encourages mindful movement
Often when I speak to people who want to take on Pilates for back pain they speak about finding it hard not to overexert themselves with other exercise, or knowing how much is too much when it comes to lifting or other daily activities.
Pilates is a holistic practice which focuses on breath and body awareness, and those who have done Pilates consistently will notice a much greater ability to know their limits and listen to what their body needs.
This will reduce the risk of reinjury or overcompensation, as well as simply knowing how much is too much, as Pilates encourages you to build strength in a gentle, sustainable way.
How can I start Pilates for back pain?
The first thing to make sure that we underline from the start is that it’s important to practice Pilates with a qualified instructor who is experienced in helping people with back issues, especially if you suffer from chronic pain.
Find a Pilates studio with experienced instructors who you’re able to talk to about your specific needs and any limitations you may have.
At New Healthy Body several of our instructors have done specific Back Care training and other specialists courses so we can help clients with conditions such as Sciatica, Disc Prolapses, Facet Joint and Sacro-iliac Dysfunction, Piriformis Syndrome, Osteoporosis, Spinal Stenosis, Spondylolysis, Hypermobility as well as Non-Specific Lower Back Pain.
Pilates isn’t a quick-fix solution, so bear in mind that you’ll need patience here; consistency is key, so if you’re willing to put in the work and build Pilates into your lifestyle, over time you’ll realise that you’ve gained strength, and your back pain will become more and more manageable and, in some cases, completely go!
Real experiences from real people
You don’t just have to take our word for it; we’ve helped lots of people to take up Pilates for back pain and the Success Stories page of our website shows how many of them have benefited from it.
Paul McLaughlin writes, ‘I’ve been attending weekly classes now for about 6 weeks and already feeling the benefit, my back pain is 95% gone already and no longer getting shooting pains down my legs every morning! Thank you so so much!!’
Joan Boswell shared her experience too, saying ‘I joined the 21 Day Pilates Programme as I had back pain and general aches and pains. And also, to improve my mental health. I have found this has really helped and I can’t wait to continue my Pilates journey.’
These are just two of the many people who’ve found relief from back pain in Pilates – and you could be one of them too.
Contact New Healthy Body about Pilates for back pain
If you’re looking into Pilates for back pain we’d love to help.
All of our classes cater for mixed abilities and every one of our instructors will vary each exercise depending on your aims and ability, meaning that all of our classes are accessible to you whether you’re a complete beginner or you’ve been doing Pilates for years.
Have a look at our classes and see what you think is right for you, or get in contact to talk about your specific back pain so that we can help you to decide what would be best for your needs.
If you’re interested in the 21 day Pilates programme mentioned above, which Joan Boswell found so helpful, you can find out more and sign up here.
It’s a fantastic way to trial Pilates and see if it’s for you, whilst gaining lots of knowledge on how to improve your posture and move better.
You will start to feel the benefits of Pilates through attending one Pilates class a week over a three week period.
And unlimited access to over 40 Pilates workouts that you can access online, whenever and wherever you like. This is great way to practice safely and effectively between classes.
There’s also a library of specific Pilates exercise videos, which you can practice in your own time, and your instructor will highlight those which are especially suited to your needs and goals.
All of that is included in the incredible price of just £21, so it’s really worth booking on and seeing how you will benefit from taking up Pilates for back pain with New Healthy Body.