Physical therapy plays a huge role in restoring and rehabilitating movement for people with joint health issues. But did you know that when it’s combined with Pilates, it can be even more powerful?
More and more patients are seeking out Pilates-based physical therapy for joint health. And it’s a growing trend considering how beneficial Pilates is for your overall well-being.
Pilates-based physical therapy can improve mobility, reduce pain, and speed up joint recovery while teaching patients a healthier and safer way to move.
What Is Pilates and Pilates-Based Physical Therapy?
In a nutshell, Pilates is a low-impact exercise modality that emphasizes strengthening the core muscles to improve strength, flexibility, joint stability, and overall function of the body. The movements in Pilates are rooted in a foundation of control, precision, and flow to establish a stronger mind-body connection.
Pilates-based physical therapy incorporates these controlled and low-impact movements to help with posture and proper biomechanics. This, in turn, leads to reduced stress on the joints and better overall joint alignment.
These definitions are a gross over-simplification, of course. But if you’re interested in a deeper dive, we invite you to explore our blog which is loaded with informational articles on both these topics (and then some).
In the meantime, we’ll look specifically at the advantages of addressing joint health with Pilates-based physical therapy.
How Using Pilates-Based Physical Therapy for Joint Health Can Help
On its own, Pilates uses minimal strain during movement and is designed to be gentle on the joints. Plus, its emphasis on core engagement helps to stabilize the pelvis and spine, reducing stress on other joints. The movements increase flexibility and range of motion in the joints while strengthening the muscles that support and stabilize them. By improving flexibility, strength, and flexibility, joint pain can be reduced. In addition, with the movements focusing on proper alignment and correct posture, there is less potential strain on joints that are overcompensating for poor alignment.
For all of these reasons, patients are increasingly seeking out Pilates-based physical therapy to rehabilitate a wide variety of joint ailments and conditions. They include the following:
Osteoarthritis
When the protective cartilage between the joints wears down due to osteoarthritis , it can be painful. There may also be stiffness, swelling, reduced range of motion, and even muscle weakness.
Because it’s low-impact and involves mindful movements, Pilates-based physical therapy is particularly well-suited for treating osteoarthritis. The targeted exercises work toward strengthening the surrounding muscles to support the affected joint and ease the pain.
Joint Replacement Surgery Recovery
Just as osteoarthritis can cause pain and stiffness, so too can joint replacement surgery. At least initially. This is why Pilates is often incorporated into physical therapy regimens aimed at post-surgery rehabilitation. Pilates-based physical therapists can tailor rehab exercises to help you get stronger and heal faster.
Strained Joints from Injuries
When attempting to recover from an injury, increasing strength and mobility is crucial to recovering. Yet, when a joint is impacted by the injury, movement can feel counterintuitive. This is where the gentle yet effective movements in Pilates can go the distance toward rehabilitation without putting undue stress on the joints.
Poor Body Posture
Oftentimes, joint pain isn’t a result of an injury or condition, but rather just the way we move through our everyday lives. With so many devices and hours spent in cars, poor body posture is quickly becoming a top culprit for creating joint pain. When the spine is misaligned, it puts strain on other parts of the body which can result in muscular imbalances and back and neck pain. Improving body posture through Pilates-based physical therapy addresses the root causes of poor alignment.
Curious About How Pilates-Based Physical Therapy Could Serve You?
While using Pilates-based physical therapy for joint health is a highly effective healing modality, this form of physical therapy can treat a huge range of issues.
So if you live in Southeastern Michigan, or at least don’t mind driving to Southfield, you have an excellent Pilates-based physical therapy resource available to you.
Contact us today to connect with us and to speak with a therapist about what your journey to wholeness and well-being might look like for you!