Physical Therapy and Pilates

Prue Physical Therapy and Sports Performance is excited to announce we will be adding a Pilates Based Physical Therapist to our practice. So in honor of that exciting announcement we thought we would share some helpful tips to get you geared up for Pilates.

7 Ways Pilates Can Improve Your Health

Develop a Strong Core

Pilates is a great method of exercise to improve your core strength. This includes your hips, glutes and abdominals. Pilates challenges you to learn how to engage muscle groups that can be difficult to target with alternative forms of exercise.

Reduce Back Pain

By improving your hip and core strength you also can reduce your back pain. Core strength, flexibility, mobility and exercise are all great ways to counteract the negative effects of sitting which can often lead to back pain. Pilates allows you to correct those problems in a safe and challenging environment.

Improve Flexibility and Mobility

Going through an entire Pilates workout will not only help you build strength, but it will address flexibility and mobility issues by lengthening your muscles, improving muscle elasticity, and improving joint mobility.

Improve Cardiovascular Fitness

Some Pilates workouts can incorporate a cardiovascular training component. Some programs can raise your heart rate to the equivalent of jogging, without the stressful impact on your joints.

Connect With Holistic Fitness

Pilates focuses on quality movement vs quantity. It forces you to become in tune with your body. You not only learn how to perform certain movements and exercises, you learn how to control them.

Reduce Stress

Exercise has been shown to reduce stress. Pilates takes this one step further because of the mind body connection that is created during a Pilates workout.

Diversify Your Workout

A lot of traditional exercise programs include some form of cardiovascular training (running, jogging, biking, elliptical) and weight or resistance training. Sometimes we fall into ruts where we exercise because we know it’s good for us, but we have to dig down deep to force ourselves to do it. Changing up that routine is a good way to stay engaged with your workouts.

About the author:

Dr. Kevin Prue PT, DPT, CSCS is a graduate of Duke University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. He is the president and director of Prue Physical Therapy & Sports Performance (www.pruept.com) located in Cary NC. He specializes sports and orthopedic physical therapy, sports performance training and injury prevention for youth and recreational athletes.