14 DAY TRIAL // Ever since Pilates exercises appeared, a little over 40 years ago, all specialists and avid practitioners have not stopped telling the world that there’s more to them than just losing weight and building a stronger core. One of the arguments most used throughout time has been that Pilates also helps relieve and prevent back pains – today, a new study comes to prove that the claim is actually accurate.
First, there was a study published in the Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy, which had it that small, controlled groups of people who practiced Pilates for a four-week period experienced less back pain. Based on it, researchers from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, undertook another study, which implied two distinct groups of sufferers of low-back pains: one took up Pilates, while the other resorted to the usual medical help received in such cases.
The results were nothing short of astounding: not only did Pilates practitioners feel less back pain when the study ended, but the effects of the exercises also lasted more in time. Thus, one year after the Pilates “treatment” came to an end, the sufferers maintained the physical improvements, while the same was not observed in those who went for traditional pain-relieving methods.
As a side note, all subjects included in the study were suffering from chronic back pain, and the exercises were done on Pilates special equipment. On the other hand, those who got the usual care consulted with a physician and other healthcare professionals and specialists. Undoubtedly, the findings of the study indicate that there are other alternative ways of relieving and even preventing low-back pain, apart from medication and regular medical help.
As we have already discussed in a previous article, Pilates is a kind of exercise with a long tradition that focuses mostly on building a strong core, finding flexibility and awareness of one’s body. While it does help the practitioner lose weight, it has never been meant solely for this. Pilates exercises are also good for relaxation, but mostly when performed in the presence of a certified trainer, who can teach you how to breath and get to know the workings of your body.