Studies show that about 80% of the population will experience back pain problems at some point in their life. Common causes of back pain can include poor posture, inactiveness, and obesity. There’s one thing that can solve all of these problems at once: Pilates!
Pilates is one of the few sports that works to improve posture, whilst also keeping the participant physically active. How does it do this you may ask? Well, Pilates targets several muscles that support the spine, resultantly, strengthening these muscles and making your spine less likely to move in an unwanted way. In addition to strengthening the spinal muscles, Pilates will also strengthen core muscles. With the toughening of the core muscles comes the ability for your body to support your spine and pelvis, which are involved in posture control.
Being inactive can affect your health negatively, the most common outcomes being obesity and fatigue.
The build-up of body fat resulting in a person having excess fat is a result of inactivity due to the fact that the person is not getting the recommended amount of exercise for their weight, age, and or, gender. When a person is obese, it is hard for them to support the extra weight; resulting in, you guessed it, back problems! Pilates can improve back strength, and help you to lose weight. So, why not kill two birds with one stone?
Fatigue can also come from inactivity. Naturally, when a person is tired, they tend not to stand with their utmost perfect posture. So, when you notice that throughout the day our body is becoming more and more tired and your shoulders are drooping lower and lower, think about the fact that your body just doesn’t have the endurance to hold itself up any longer. Participating in Pilates will build that endurance, allowing you to stand up straighter for longer and ultimately relieving back pain.