Back Pain: Are your discs affecting your Pilates practice?

Back pain is something that 70-90% of the Australians will likely experience, and herniated discs can be a common reason for this. Pilates is a great core strength builder and can often be recommended by health professionals to those that are at risk of back problems. But discs can also affect the way you move in Pilates.

Back Pain and Herniated Discs

The way disk pathology is discussed, it seems all doom and gloom. It’s as if receiving results that you have a disc herniation/bulge/prolapse/slip is a life sentence. This may blow your mind, but current studies show that at least half of herniated discs spontaneously de-herniate! In fact, 66% of people in this study experienced disc reabsorption without surgery.

As a Pilates instructor, I meet people who have back pain and more specifically some sort of disc injury (past or present) nearly every day. Our intervertebral discs are our spines shock-absorbing system, cushioning between vertibra. The outer layer of the disc is annulus fibrosis which is a firm but flexible coating over the nucleus pulposis which is a softer jelly like substance. When the disc is herniated, the nucleus pulposis pushes through the annulus fibrosis causing irritation to nerves and potentially pain.

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Herniated Discs affecting your Pilates

In my experience, most clients who have experienced disc injury tend to overprotect their spines, causing rigidity and tight muscles. Working with clients to move well, safely is so achievable! Pilates is a wonderful method of movement to create balance, strength and flexibility throughout the body as a whole. Movement is medicine and pain does not equal damage/damage does not equal pain. Gone are the days when bed rest is the standard recommendation for any disc damage. You can get out of the pain cycle by

  • slowing grading your exercise - not doing too much too soon but building up

  • getting adequate and quality sleep

  • eliminating stress factors from your life

  • moving fearlessly - especially your spine

If you are experiencing any discomfort due to disc injury, contact a qualified clinical Pilates instructor near you or contact us for a clinical Pilates appointment. We work with people like you every day and it’s a joy to help you move pain free - info@pilatesandco.com.au. 

source: https://www.painscience.com/biblio/at-least-half-of-herniated-discs-spontaneously-de-herniate.html

PilatesBelindaback pain, clinical pilates, disc, herniated disc, pilates, spine, Belinda Survilla