Do you struggle with chronic pain? If so, you may have tried numerous approaches to address the discomfort and help you live life the way you want to. However, many people focus on medication or limiting movement and do not consider that exercise could be the path to recovery. In fact, Reformer Pilates classes have been directly correlated with a reduction in pain for many people, allowing them to return to enjoying their lifestyles.
If this is an intriguing prospect, it is never too late to try! Pilates classes are accessible for anyone, even those whose pain keeps them from moving the way they want. Here are some ways that Reformer Pilates can help with your chronic pain.
Increases Range of Motion
For some people, pain arises when a particular body area, such as the neck, remains stiff and immobile. You might have kept your back straighter, relying on your trunk to help you look around and accomplish tasks.
While this may have worked for a little while, you were actually placing increased demands on muscles that were not usually responsible for the tasks you were doing. This can lead to pain as they overwork. Reformer Pilates focuses on improving your range of motion so your joints can stay flexible and free-moving. Not only does this make things more convenient, but it also helps to decrease compensation, or the process of unrelated muscles taking over a task, which results in pain.
Builds Stability
Another reason someone might be experiencing pain is that their body is unstable. If your knees hurt, one reason may be that your knee joint is grinding or struggling to find a secure configuration to handle the pressure of walking.
Pilates helps to work the joints, including all the muscles that attach to them. By strengthening these muscles, you can give your joints support so they stay in the right spot and diffuse movement properly.
Decreases Fear of Movement
One interesting element that studies have found about Reformer Pilates is that it is associated with a lower fear of movement. It is common for those with chronic pain to gradually move less, fearful that they might aggravate their symptoms. However, reducing movement only worsens the problem, decreasing flexibility, causing muscle atrophy, and more.
Pilates can help with chronic pain by actively embracing slow, intentional, impactful movement. By reframing how a person thinks about their body, Pilates can have a tangible effect on how they move and, consequently, recover from pain.
Creates Symmetry
Did you know that your muscles often work in pairs? Many muscles in the body have a corresponding companion; one contracts while the other extends, and vice versa. Similarly, each side of your body is mirrored, containing the same muscles as the other. If your movements are working one muscular area and neglecting the others, you might start to experience pain.
Your core helps to keep your hips aligned, but in many cases, a person’s posture makes this difficult. To keep you upright, your core muscles might recruit help from the pelvic floor or even the shoulders. These muscles are doing a job they did not sign up for, and over time, your muscle structure can become imbalanced or asymmetrical.
When muscles are not working in tandem because some are larger or smaller than they are supposed to be, you might experience pain.Reformer Pilates works both sides of the body evenly, keeping your muscles symmetrical and equally strong.
Builds Proprioception
Proprioception is the ability to identify where you are in space. It helps you avoid running into that table or putting on your shoes without looking. In many cases, some pain can occur due to problems with proprioception. For example, you may not be aware of how your posture or moving (e.g., your gait) impacts your body, which can lead to pain over time.
Reformer Pilates places great emphasis on being present in your body. By practicing the deliberate process of feeling and engaging your body, you can boost your proprioception with Pilates and gain invaluable feedback into how your body responds and why it might hurt.
Try Reformer Pilates Classes for Your Chronic Pain
If chronic pain continues to interfere with your quality of life, Reformer Pilates classes may be able to help. From gently and effectively balancing your muscular development to teaching you how to feel what your body is saying, Pilates has plenty to contribute to long-term pain relief. Contact RTR Pilates to sign up for a beginner class, even if you have never heard of a reformer until now!