Can Pilates help back pain?

At Pilates Northwest, we see a lot of clients with back pain – from low back pain, pain around the shoulder blades, pain in the upper trapezius muscles, to pain in the rib areas and mid back – we’ve seen it all. In today’s computer-based, high stress society, we get a lot of people who come in with the goal of lessening their back pain. Practicing Pilates is a great way to do this. For those with severe back pain, consulting with your physician if often the first step. We want to be sure there are no contraindications to exercise before working with you. Once you have the green light, we are ready!

Pilates principles are consistent with exercise programs that promote back health. In particular, most hospital-based back health programs look like Pilates programs. Learning neutral alignment of the spine (where the curves of the spine are healthy and optimal) and strengthening the deep core postural muscles that support this alignment are vital skills for the back pain patient.

Patients with pain stemming from lack of strength and poor spinal alignment are particularly likely to benefit from a Pilates exercise program.  Postural alignment and body asymmetry can be altered. This improvement can drastically improve the wear and tear resulting from uneven stresses on the intervertebral joints and discs.

Pilates improves overall deep strength, flexibility, and function of the muscles of the hip and shoulder girdle. Fluidity and supported movement through these joints helps prevent unnecessary torque on the vertebral column.

At Pilates Northwest, we like to ask questions. We have worked in conjunction with other health professionals. We like teamwork and often times improving back pain takes communication between different parties. We strive to help our clients increase their strength, fluidity, suppleness and alignment. We see that a strong, more aligned and functional back is a happier back. We listen to our clients and take session notes. We treat each person differently and provide highly personalized sessions.