Why is Pilates considered so beneficial?
Pilates is often prescribed by doctors, osteopaths and physiotherapists for people with problems such as chronic back or neck pain, arthritis, sports injuries, ME and repetitive strain syndrome. The exercises specifically target the bodys stabilising and strength muscles. The strength muscles are the ones we can see and feel on our bodies and are designed to help us move, walk and lift. The stabilising muscles are much deeper in the body and less easy to feel their job is to hold our body in an efficient and safe position or posture while we move. Both are equally important to help us function normally and safely. However, if the stabilising muscles become weak (often due to injury, pain or a sedentary lifestyle), this natural protective system begins to fail. The brain will recognise weakness in these muscles and will recruit or bring into action the strength muscles to do the job of the stabilising muscles. Since they were not designed to do this job, a muscle imbalance around one or
