There is no doubting back pain is a big problem in the modern world.

Our sedentary lifestyle, combined with our allopathic approach of merely treating symptoms, has led this injury to reach a point where 9 out of 10 adults now experience back pain at some point in their life.

For many years now we have been convinced to believe that strong abs means a strong core, and will prevent back pain. Even therapists and Doctors have been known to prescribe planks and abdominal exercises to treat back pain with this same type of thinking. We must realise that strength of the abdominal muscles WILL NOT change the faulty movement that leads to injury and pain. Your body will instantly sacrifice any strength if it only knows how to move with the same dysfunctional movement it has always used. You must identify and change the faulty movement patterns linked to the injury to have any chance. In this article we will explain why learning to move better is more important to you than strength of your abdominal muscles if you have back pain.

Colin Leahy Managing Director Carlton Freight

“Having suffered for many years with back problems and having visited Doctors, Hospitals and Physiotherapists it was suggested by a Physiotherapist that Pilates might help with my problem. My problem being a debilitating severe muscle spasm, which occurs when the back muscles support the lower vertebrae, which do not separate as normal. Whilst Pilates doesn’t cure the problem it has lengthened my spine, improved my posture and strengthened my back muscle so that the spasm hardly ever occurs, but more importantly the lessons and exercises learned on realigning and lengthening the back enables me to confidently react to a spasm with exercise, rather than rest and reduce recovery time from what was often weeks to a matter of days”

The important principles of Pilates are consistent with an exercise one to one program that promotes backcare and back pain treatment. In particular, learning awareness of neutral alignment of the spine and strengthening the deep postural muscles that support this alignment are important skills for lower back pain relief patients.

Patients with lower back pain stemming from excessive movement and degeneration of the intervertebral discs and joints are particularly likely to benefit from a Pilates exercise program. In addition, postural asymmetries can be improved, thus decreasing wear and tear resulting from uneven stresses on the intervertebral joints and discs.

One to one backcare Pilates improves strength, flexibility and suppleness of the muscles of the hip and shoulder girdle and is effective in backpain treatment. Fluid and supported movement through these joints helps prevent unnecessary torque on the vertebral column.

Back/spine rehabilitation package includes:

  • Chek assessment and measurements statically and dynamically
  • Spine/back assessment
  • Nutrition and lifestyle assessment
  • Advanced program design rehab program
  • A 6-24 month action plan
  • Weekly training sessions at our studio
  • Re assessment every 8 weeks

Anne Preston, Client

“I have been attending the restorative backcare classes with Nisha now for 7 months, and strongly recommend anyone out there with back or mobility problems to join one of her classes. Nisha is a fantastic instructor and ultimate professional. We work on a machine called V2Max which is very clever and enables you to stretch and use muscles that would not be possible in a general exercise class. Nisha guides and encourages you through every movement. The classes are small and supervised.”

As a general rule, backcare patients should avoid exercises that push the spine into extremes of flexion or extension, or combine flexion with side bending or twisting the spine. These motions place excessive stress on the intervertebral discs. Also, it is important to avoid fatigue-either mental or physical-which is when proper form is lost and injuries more likely to occur.

Irene Cieplak, Client

“I have been going to a gym for many years and am into the ‘no pain, no gain’. Pilates is so different and gentle and I can definitely feel the benefits. It has helped with the discomfort and pain that I suffer with after a whip lash injury a couple of years ago. I am certainly continuing and hopefully will progress to try out the machines in the near future.”