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Golfers Back Pain ? Pilates Relieves And Prevents

Did you know that trunk rotation of the golf swing puts enormous pressure on your lower back? That’s why the back problems are the most common type of golf-related injuries.

Weekend golfers who have poor swing mechanics, lack of flexibility and core strength are more likely to get lower back pain. Golfers with poor swing mechanics tend to swing harder, causing larger spinal loads and increased muscle activity, resulting in more stress to the lumbar spine. Pro golfers who are physically fit and have good swing techniques are not immune to lower back problems either. Pro golfers tend to develop lower back pain from overuse due to repetitive one-sided movement.

Golfers who have degenerative disc disease or arthritis in the lumbar spine are more susceptible to overloading their spines. The discs lose their shock-absorbing capabilities, and loads are transferred to other structures within the spine that are unable to withstand these forces. A poor golf swing causes more shearing, compression and rotational forces on the low back. Can you believe that your body weight is forced through your spine eight times as you make contact with the ball? So, if poor mechanics are combined with a weak back, you are more likely to cause yourself a significant injury.

Poor posture is the most significant contributor to golfers’ lower back pain. Poor posture is caused often by muscle imbalances or visa versa. Poor posture and any amount of muscle imbalances cause biomechanical fault to your swing thus increasing risk of lower back injury. Golf swing requires that all elements of the posture have to be properly maintained throughout the swing. Golfers with a good posture swing better – and without back pain! Believe it or not, a proper posture has a positive influence on power production to your swing, too!

Many players with lower back pain are looking for an easy fix to treat their back pain. Some players are taking extra amount of painkillers before game while others try to get quick-fix with chiropractors. It’s true that these “treatment” might help reduce pain temporarily, but they rarely solve the underlying problem(s). If you lack flexibility on your shoulders, spine and hips, weak core muscles, poor posture and muscle imbalances, your back pain is not going anyway. Pain will persist until you decide to concentrate more in caring the cause of the pain, not only symptoms.

Pilates is a good exercise program for people with lower back pain, especially for golfers. Several studies have shown that golfers with low back pain have decreased trunk and hip strength, decreased hamstring flexibility, as well as trunk rotation to the right is also limited. Those are the main problem areas that we are focusing in Pilates – and much more. Pilates is all about body alignment, deep back and abdominal muscles strength, joint and spine mobility and stability, as well as soft tissue flexibility. A well-trained Pilates instructor can identify your musculoskeletal imbalances and provide personalized golf-specific Pilates exercises to improve your posture and overall conditioning specific to golf. Correct posture and good muscle balance will help you to get into proper positions which are required in effective golf swing. And the best part – they will lessen your lower back pain or even help you play pain-free!

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Pilates Relieves Pain of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder with widespread pain and tender points throughout the body, and fatigue in muscles and tendons. Fibromyalgia may be aggravated by weather changes, cold, humidity, excessive physical activity, physical inactivity, hormonal fluctuations, sleeplessness, anxiety, stress, depression, or mental or physical fatigue. There is no cure for fibromyalgia but there are variety of treatment options to help control pain and symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Exercise is one of the leading treatments for fibromyalgia. Exercise increase blood flow and feed your muscles by relieving your pain. Exercise works like alternative treatment or medicine to healing your symptoms and controlling your pain. Unfortunately, it really matters what kind of exercise is good for you. Good mach for your situation is definitely Pilates.

Pilates is low-impact and many Pilates movements can be modified just for you and your specific needs. Pilates has both stretching and strengthening aspect of every movement, which makes it even more beneficial exercise form for fibromyalgia sufferers. Pilates improves your joint range of motion, muscle flexibility and strength. Pilates also improves your body awareness and gives you more energy.

It’s important to start Pilates only with a well qualified Pilates instructor. She or he will teach you a proper movement by using specialized Pilates equipment. Pilates equipments (Reformer, Trapeze Table, Wunda-chair, Ladder Barrel) are assisting your movements but also give you more challenge if you need so. Good Pilates instructor can correct your unwanted movement patterns due to pain and concentrate improving your posture. Many fibromyalgia sufferers have postural stresses and poor posture leads more pain, stress and fatigue in your muscles and joints. You don’t want that! You don’t want to increase your pain! So, Pilates is very good way to get help for your posture and muscle imbalances.

Pilates is a body and mind exercise and will help your overall healing process. Pilates is rehabilitative and holistic treatment for many disorders and symptoms including fibromyalgia. It is a good way to start exercising safely, and you are going to see that it doesn’t only stretch and strengthen you, it also improves your whole quality of life.