The Benefit of Pilates for Arthritis
Arthritis is a condition which affects a huge number of people throughout the world. There are a number of different forms of arthritis, the most common being osteoarthritis. Arthritis causes increased inflammation of joints, wearing of the cartilage which covers joint surfaces and the formation of osteophytes which leads to an uneven joint surface. However, these joint changes in turn cause increased pain, stiffness, swelling and decreased strength of surrounding muscles. As of yet, there is no cure for arthritis but certain forms of exercises have proven to be effective in reducing the symptoms associated with arthritis.
Pilates for Arthritis
Pilates is a form of exercise which focuses on control and quality of movement. Therefore, movements are smooth and controlled with no impact. By the improvement of core, scapular and gluteal muscle strength, you can achieve optimal joint and movement control. By improving strength of our core muscle groups, improved biomechanics and control of our joints is achieved. Through repetition, endurance of these muscle groups is increased, meaning there is less load on stiff, irritated joint surfaces and overall posture and body movement gets better over time.
Pilates also centres around deep breathing and relaxation during movement. The more we breathe as we move, the better the circulation around the joint carrying increased nourishment and synovial fluid to the joint surfaces. In addition, improved sense of well-being, decreased stress and improved sleep are some of the benefits of pilates.
In summary the main benefits of pilates include:
Reduced joint pain and stiffness
Improved strength of muscles and ligaments surrounding affected joints
Maintenance of bone strength and quality
Improved balance and co-ordination
Improved posture and body mechanics
Increased joint range of motion
Increased energy throughout the day
knowledge of suitable exercises to control and ease discomfort
Improved breathing and relaxation
Pilates will help you if you have symptoms of arthritis and have not found a rehabilitation. To sum up, if you are interested in finding out more, contact us here and book a free Pilates assessment.