The Guru recommends focused Pilates to Anna who has been suffering from lower back pain
- Related Injuries: Back
March 4, 2015
Hello
I have had lower back pain on and off for the last 10 years or so. Over the last few years it has got progressively worse, to the point now where I am unable to stand for more than a few minutes.
An MRI scan showed that I have a slight herniated disc (and some degeneration, which I understand is normal) in my lower back.
I have been doing pilates for several years and in the last few months I’ve seen a physiotherapist. Â I have been doing the assigned exercises – mainly to improve my core stability. Â But I am not yet seeing any results.
Is this normal and is there something else you can offer me?
Thanks in advance
Anna
Anna
March 4, 2015
Hi Anna
Pilates is great for low back pain. But, it needs to be used at the right time and in the right place.
Pilates is this Decades (and some more) buzz word. Everyone seems to be doing this thing called Pilates. The problem is – some are,some aren’t. They’re just wiggling their legs in the air and calling it Pilates.
It must focus around keeping the bit which moves too much (your lower back) stable and making bits of your body which don’t move quite as well (your thoracic spine) move more.
The range of motion exercises are substituted for quality of motion exercises.
If you’ve got the ability to move better ie more movement through your thoracic spine and less through your lumbar spine then this is a great time and place to start Pilates.
If you don’t – and not sure you do – then Pilates becomes really frustrating as you don’t see any improvement despite putting the hours in.
We can give you the ability to move better. The ability to have better control over bits that move too much and are painful. We can also give you the ability to see and look at this thing called your “core” by using real time ultrasound. All these things make us pretty good (!) when it comes to dealing with tricky, recalcitrant back pain.
Hope this helps
The Guru
Six Physio
