• Careers
  • Education
  • Research
Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
  • About
  • Find A Doctor (current)
  • Find A Location
  • Specialties & Treatments
MyOchsner Logo
Login | Signup
Submit Search
Close Search
  •   Home
  • In To Your Health...
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
  • I need to...
  • Find A Doctor
  • Find A Location
  • Find A Specialty
  • Schedule An Appointment
  • Pay A Bill
  • Explore
  • About Ochsner
  • Careers
  • Patients & Visitors
  • "To Your Health" Blog
  • Health Resources
  • Medical Professionals
  • Education
  • Philanthropy
  • Community Outreach
  • Research
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Call: 1-866-624-7637
  • Online: Login to MyOchsner
  • Personalize your content
  • patient Edit Persona Persona Chooser
To Your Health

View Newsletter Editions
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
7 5 16   Pilates

Pilates - An Alternative Solution to Low Back Pain

Updated: Sep 4, 2020 | Originally Published: Jul 8, 2016 |
By Yashar Eshraghi
Share Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Pinterest Logo Email Logo

Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons for doctor’s office visits. The adults experience of low back pain can be as a high as 90% in their lifetime. Low back pain is the most common reason for job related disability and missed work days. In a given year, close to 50% of adults will have some form of low back pain, with the direct costs alone being as high as $20 billion annually and the indirect costs, including lost work time and worker’s compensation claims, estimated north of $50 billion annually.

With the current concentration on reducing healthcare costs while improving quality of life, pilates might be an excellent alternative modality in lower back pain management.

What is Pilates?

The Pilates method was developed by Joseph Pilates of Germany. He was born with asthma and other health problems but turned to exercise and sports to overcome his various ailments. Pilates’ emphasis is placed on controlled movements. The moves might look simple but takes a lot of control and precision. While the core is the main focal point of pilates, it also engages the upper back, glutes, and muscles of the legs. It has been shown to improve strength, balance, and flexibility.

In addition, most participants note an improvement in posture and overall well-being. The focus is on improving core strength to help support bones and muscle as well as teaching awareness of movements that may stress the spine. It is a well-known fact that improvement of abdominal strength decreases the risk of injury to the low back and can help with lower back pain.

Is Pilates For Me?

If you have chronic lower back pain, pilates can help with strength conditioning and improve flexibility. If you are looking for strengthening your core muscles and improving your posture, pilates is for you. After trying a few sessions, you might be amazed at the many benefits it provides including the ability to help alleviate pain. It can decrease tension in your low back and legs due to improved alignment and awareness of posture while engaging in physical activity. These exercises can be demanding so start slow and tailor it to your needs.

Why I Recommend Pilates

As a pain management physician, I often recommend physical therapy and home exercises to aid in treatment of chronic low back pain because physical activity can help with both pain and mood, which goes hand in hand. Spine related pain is best treated by utilizing a multimodal approach, which consists of a combination of medical, interventional, and physical modalities, which are crucial for successful pain management.

Pilates, with classes usually lasting for one hour, serves as an additional option to help improve pain and overall well-being of patients with chronic lower back pain. Instructors do not have to be licensed to teach pilates but it is best to work with a certified and experienced instructor who is knowledgeable regarding injuries to maintain safety.

Tags
pilates
back pain

You may also be interested in:

Thinkstockphotos 82090255 Man Outdoors Stretching
Prevention & Wellness
Sep 4, 2020

10 Ways to Keep Your Back Healthy

From staying hydrated to quitting smoking, here are 10 ways to keep your back healthy and strong.
Thinkstockphotos 98352983
Food & Fitness
Oct 2, 2015

Bike Your Way to a Better Body

Besides being fun, and a responsible way to minimize your carbon footprint, riding a bicycle can be an excellent fitness activity. Because it puts much less stress on your joints, knees and hips than running or walking, cycling is good for cross-training.
454185429 Doctors Appointment On Calendar
Prevention & Wellness
Mar 19, 2015

6 Reasons To Get an Annual Physical

Read 6 good reasons why you should schedule your annual physical examination today.

Comments about the blog? Send us an email!

Ochsner Health Ochsner Health

Schedule An Appointment: 1-866-624-7637

Follow us: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Pinterest

Healthy living tips, delivered weekly to your inbox.

Patients & Visitors

  • Billing & Financial Services
  • Insurance Information
  • International Patients
  • Request Medical Records
  • Share Your Story
  • Read Patient Stories

Medical Professionals

  • Transfer a Patient
  • Refer a Patient

Health Resources

  • To Your Health Blog
  • Golden Opportunity
  • Hello Health Seminars
  • Ochsner Magazine

Job Seekers

  • Career Paths
  • Benefits
  • Open Positions

Employees

  • Webmail
  • OHSLink
  • Workday

Employers

  • Corporate Wellness
  • Medicare Advantage Plans

Community Outreach

  • Classes & Events
  • Programs
  • Community Health Needs Assessment
  • Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

Education

  • Graduate Medical Education
  • Clinical Medical Education
  • Continuing Medical Education
  • Medical Library
  • Publishing Services
  • Medical Illustrations

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Applied Health Services Research
  • Clinical Research & Trials
  • Nursing Research
  • Translational Research

Giving

  • Donate
  • Volunteer

About Ochsner

  • Mission & Vision
  • History
  • Annual Report
  • Outcomes & Honors
  • News & Media
  • Alumni
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Contact Us

Shop

  • O Bar
  • Optical Shop
  • Ochsner Fitness Center
  • Brent House Hotel

© Ochsner Health  | Notice of Privacy Practices | Terms of Use | Vendor Information

Ochsner accepts all major insurances.

Ochsner is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, founded on providing the best patient care, research, and education.

We are one of the country’s largest non-university based academic medical centers.

Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Community Needs Health Assessment

EpicMobile Tablet | EpicMobile Phone

Healthy Living Tips, Delivered Right To Your Inbox

* indicates required


Must Reads
Food and Fitness
Men’s Health
Parenting
Women’s Health

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:


Get Weekly Health Tips

Select the weekly newsletters you'd like to receive.

Please select at least one category to continue.

Curious about our newsletters?

View details for each edition

Let us know where to send your weekly newsletters.

To Your Health- Food and Fitness:
To Your Health- General:
To Your Health- Men’s Health:
To Your Health- Parenting:
To Your Health- Women’s Health:

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:

You're all set!

We’ll send newsletters full of healthy living tips right to your inbox every week.

Ochsner Health System
ESC to Close

Begin Typing to Search

Select the drop-down to filter Search by Blog Articles or Sitewide