Pilates for Arthritis : Proven Benefits

If you suffer from arthritis pain, the Pilates Method may be quite beneficial for you. Pilates exercises have been proven to be a great help for the relief of arthritis pain. Too often, people who have arthritis stop moving around as much as they should. This may greatly add to the joint damage caused by the arthritis. You must keep moving—strengthening and stretching your muscles and joints as much as you can.

Muscles and tissues that surround and support joints become weak when they are not used enough. This causes the joint to lose its shape, and increases wear and tear on the joint. Exercise helps to keep those muscles and tissues strong, and to regain strength in those muscles and tissues that have already weakened. When these muscles are strengthened, joint pain is reduced, and in some cases, completely eliminated.

It is of course important that you discuss Pilates with your doctor and discuss your arthritis with your instructor before beginning. Plan to exercise during the part of the day when you are experiencing the least amount of pain if possible, as this will enhance your ability to do the exercises, which in turn will make the exercises more beneficial.

Pilates breathing helps reduce pain too

The Pilates breathing techniques is also known to be beneficial for arthritis sufferers. The proper breathing techniques carry oxygen to all of your cells, and those cells work to improve the quality of joints, muscles, tendons and tissues. The Pilates Method of exercise is designed to stretch, strengthen, and balance the body. It actually aligns your body correctly, which can also reduce arthritis pain that in the back, neck and other joints as well.

Pilates can be modified to your needs

Exercise and activity helps you keep your weight down, which in turn will help to ease arthritis pain. When weight is added to joints, they must work harder, which causes more wear and tear. By exercising, and keeping your weight down, you may reduce the arthritis pain that you experience. Because the focus in Pilates is on body awareness and not going beyond your capabilities, it is the ideal program to customize for your needs. Pilates exercises can be modified, and modifications should be used when you are unable to do an exercise due to pain. Do not push yourself to do exercises that cause you a great deal of pain. A little discomfort is expected when doing any form of exercises, but extreme pain is not normal.

Again, make sure that you consult with your doctor before beginning the Pilates exercise program. Make sure that you are in a beginners class, and that your instructor knows about your arthritis. Try to attend two or three one hour classes each week for best results.