by Lisa Stephens

Created on: July 24, 2009

Like many people I have heard of Pilates exercise, but up until a couple of years ago I didn't give it much thought. I originally considered it to be another exercise fad, but have since changed my perspective on the whole concept of Pilates. Like so many, I have a long history of back pain and degenerative disease that affects my spine and my joints. Following a recent back surgery, my rehabilitation consists of mainly performing Pilates exercises on a daily basis. Through my own experience and research I have discovered that Pilates is a very effective form of exercise for anyone, of any age, and of any fitness level. This is especially true for the many people who suffer from back pain.

Pilates is a beneficial form of exercise as it addresses the underlying structural imbalances in the body that can lead to back pain such as, poor core support, pelvic instability, poor posture, muscular imbalances and a lack of awareness of ones body. Overtime, the Pilates method can significantly aid in improving back discomfort and pain.

First, Pilates helps to correct body posture. Most of the time we don't really pay much attention to the way we sit, stand or even sleep. The method of Pilates pays significant attention to how our body parts align in relation to each other. Good posture is a dynamic process that is dependant on the body's ability to align all of its parts to respond effectively to varying demands. When our alignment is off, even just a little, it creates uneven stresses on the skeleton, especially the spine. Pilates exercises focus on paying special attention to the body's alignment, creating uniform muscle use and development. This in turn allows movement to flow naturally through the body.

Pilates strengthens your core. This is the area from the lower ribs to your pelvic bone. When your core is strong, all of your muscles in the core area are strong, flexible, and work together to stabilize and support your spine. While many forms of exercise focus on toning and strengthening the big muscles that we can see, like the abdominal muscles, Pilates focuses on the deeper muscles of the core; the muscles we can't see below the surface musculature. Some of these deeper core muscles include the muscles of the pelvic floor, which play a vital role in keeping us upright, and our hips bending, the transversospinalis muscles that weave along the spine, the oblique abdominal muscles, and our prime breathing muscle, the diaphragm. All of these muscles

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