Did you know that Pilates exercises can be beneficial for those who suffer from osteoporosis? In fact, the many benefits of Pilates are worth considering if you are one of the many people who are affected by this serious health condition.
Osteoporosis is an epidemic in the United States today. The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) declares that 54 million U.S. adults age 50 and older are affected by osteoporosis and low bone mass. In fact, according to the NOF, one in every 2 women and 1 in every 4 men aged 50 or older will suffer an osteoporosis-related hip, spine or wrist fracture during their lives. Bones low in density can lead to fractures, particularly in the spine, hip and wrist. You can affect the health of your bones and improve your bone density. The NOF states that “[o]steoporosis and the broken bones it can cause are not part of normal aging. There is a lot you can do to protect your bones throughout your life. You’re never too young or too old to improve the health of your bones.”
Engaging in regular exercise is important for the health of your bones. Exercises that are important for building and maintaining bone density include weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercises. Pilates incorporates both forms of exercise. Pilates is widely known as a set of exercises designed to strengthen your core. The benefits of Pilates, however, exceed simple core strength and flexibility. By regularly practicing Pilates, you can achieve many other benefits, including maintaining and improving your bone density, thereby reducing your risk of a bone fracture.
Pilates exercises for osteoporosis can help people with weakened bones by increasing strength and muscle mass, which allows the body to better support brittle bones. Pilates further improves balance, which can help prevent falls that could result in a fractured bone, particularly in individuals who have low bone mass from osteoporosis. Pilates focuses on the key elements an individual with osteoporosis should incorporate in his or her exercise regimen, including but not limited to flexibility, balance, and posture. By improving flexibility and posture, you will help maintain bone density and decrease fracture risk.
Pilates is a safe for individuals living with osteoporosis. However, certain Pilates exercises are contraindicated and should be avoided. To that end, Pilates exercises that involve forward flexion (bending forward) and twisting should be avoided with individuals with low bone mass. Certain traditional exercises like roll ups, rollovers, short spine, jackknife, and mermaid should be avoided.
Join a Pilates class to learn more about how Pilates can help with osteoporosis, maintain bone density, and decrease your fracture risk. For more information, contact Bodhi Pilates at 303-597-8483.