Can Pilates Help Your Lower Back Pain?

If you have found yourself reading this, it is likely that you, or someone close to you is suffering from low back pain (LBP) and you’re not alone.  LBP is common, so common in fact that 84% of us will experience an acute episode over our lifetime, equally across all age groups.

LBP typically spans the area from below your ribcage to the top of your hips and can vary in presentation, symptoms and severity. With this in mind, it is important to remember that while LBP is common, it is rarely dangerous and does not mean that your back is vulnerable to damage. Pain does not equal tissue damage.

The good news, evidence suggests that acute LBP is usually self-limiting and our bodies will recover. Our backs are perfectly designed for moving, bending and lifting so it’s important to get moving with regular exercise. Pilates, and exercise in general, is perfect for managing LBP as it helps decrease our pain – we call this exercise induced hypoalgesia.

Pilates is a form of exercise that is low impact, low intensity and specifically tailored to your needs. It perfectly combines everyday functional movements with mat-based exercises and spring-loaded equipment to help strengthen postural muscles, improve balance and stability and prevent injuries occurring/reoccurring.

If you’re experiencing LBP our skilled osteopath’s, Josh and Jess and Myotherapist Alana can help tailor a management plan for you, with the end goal being pain free movement and improving your quality of life.

If you or someone you know is experiencing LBP come and see our team.

References:

The Lancet Low Back Pain Series, 2018

O’Keeffe, M.,  Griffin, D., O’Sullivan, K.,  O’Sullivan, P.,  & Maher, C.  10 myths about back pain and how to cope when it strikes 2019