Osteoporosis is a progressive disease in which there is a reduction in bone mass density, making them more fragile and increasing the risk of fracture.
The most affected body regions are the hips, wrists, femur and spine. Generally, older women are the ones who suffer the most from this pathology, as the body begins to have more difficulties in fixing and capturing calcium in the bones, making them weaker with the appearance of pores known as osteoporosis. Major factors that increase the risk of osteoporosis:
- Alcoholism;
- Sedentary lifestyle;
- Low calcium intake;
- Malnutrition;
- Smoking;
- Bad eating habits;
- Be over 50 years old;
- Not sunbathing regularly.
Benefits of Pilates in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis
The Pilates method is one of the best options for the prevention and treatment of Osteoporosis, as it is an activity that strengthens the bones and improves the feeling of well-being and quality of life.
That’s because Pilates exercises work the body as a whole, focusing on the muscles to gain muscle strength. Besides, during the classes, different types of loads are used (body weight, ball, gravity action and springs of the devices), which help to increase and improve the quality of bone mass, also guaranteeing an improvement in breathing, posture, muscle strengthening, flexibility and balance.
Remembering that exercises for osteoporosis should be focused on the most vulnerable muscles and bones that suffer a greater mechanical load. Stretching is also extremely important to avoid tensions that can cause postural problems.
It’s also worth saying that a Pilates treatment for osteoporosis may also require the need for medications and supplements with vitamin D and calcium for faster results. That’s why it’s important to have medical support for correct supplementation.
Benefits of Pilates for Osteoporosis
- Promote muscle relaxation, flexibility and agility without causing fatigue;
- Maintain and/or gain range of motion, which improves joint stiffness and prevents deformities;
- Provide muscle rebalancing of the stabilizing muscles to improve posture;
- Prevent injuries;
- Avoid incorrect movement patterns;
- Improve muscle nutrition and oxygenation;
- Decrease anxiety and tension, helping the mind relax and reduce stress and nervousness, creating healthy lifestyle habits.
As we saw above, Pilates is a really effective method in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, as it strengthens the body, so it’s possible to improve motor coordination and the axial skeleton (skull, rib cage and spine). However, for the prevention of osteoporosis to be effective, the bones need exercises that promote additional load, to reduce the loss of bone mass that occurs during aging.
For that, it’s essential to have a qualified professional to create an exercise plan that respects your limitations and determines the number and duration of sessions and short, medium and long-term goals.
Come visit us and start your Reformer Pilates classes at the Kore Gallery! We are experts in the method and we understand which are the most suitable and safe techniques according to the condition of your bone density.
