 This one is for all the moms out there! Do you have pain in your hips or back when sitting on the floor? Is it hard for you to get up from this position because everything feels so tight? Do you feel frustrated with how difficult or painful it is to play on the ground with your little one? We want to tell you why this might be happening AND what you can do to help prevent this. We really do hear this ALL the time. In fact, I had four different clients complain of this just last week, so I figured a blog was definitely in order! So WHY do I have back or hip pain when sitting on the floor? A few different things could be going on here, but most often I find that this discomfort is caused by muscle guarding or limited mobility. And there’s a good reason why your mobility is limited in the first place... If you, like many of us these days, are sitting for prolonged periods at a desk your hips are constantly held all day in one static position, which can cause a lot of tightness in your hip flexors. Then when you get on the floor and cross your legs to play with your little one your hips feel even TIGHTER. That’s because this is a tough position to get into with already tight hips. When our hips are tight our bodies need to gain some flexibility from somewhere in order to make a position work…. And most often that leads to compromising your back. When sitting on the floor, we tend to round our backs to make up for the lack of flexibility in our hips. The opposite of this can be true too! When our back muscles are not used to holding us up without support, we tend to collapse and round at our back which in turn puts even MORE stress on our hips. And so the vicious cycle begins, where our back hurts because of our hips, and our hips hurt because of our back.... So how should I sit on the floor to prevent back or hip pain? Is sitting on the floor BAD for back or hip pain? How can we sit on the floor to read, to play with a little one, or to play with a puppy without dealing with hip or back pain? Here are a few simple fixes to help you alleviate the pain you feel while sitting on the floor right now... ONE: Sit on a small stool, step, or yoga block. This is a great way to get into a criss-cross position with much less strain on your hips and back. Keeping your balance on a small stool will activate your core muscles and help you maintain neutral alignment in your spine. TWO: Prop yourself against a wall, bookcase, or couch. A little bit of support will help you maintain neutral alignment in your back. Keep yourself propped against that wall and avoid letting your low back round! THREE: Keep your knees lower than your hips. Give those hip flexors a bit of a rest, and keep your knees lower than your hips. In other words, try to avoid hugging your knees in and tucking yourself into a pretzel. This position will automatically lead to rounding at your back and shoulders, placing more stress on your back! Instead, extend your legs out straight, or prop a small pillow under your butt to elevate your hips a bit. FOUR: Breathe. This may seem like an odd suggestion. Aren't you already breathing every minute of every day? But try it for me. Really FOCUS on your breathing. Use your ribcage to guide your breath into your back to help take the pressure off of your hips and lower back muscles. This can be done in any position, but we suggest you try this sitting up tall, with a small stool propped under your seat. These tips are a great way to start alleviating some back and hip pain while sitting on the floor. But to truly FIX this problem, you'll need the specialized (and individualized!) care of a skilled physical therapist to address exactly what your body needs. These suggestions are short terms solutions. If you are looking to fix this problem and fix it for GOOD, and if you're interested in finding a long lasting solution to your back or hip pain so you can feel like yourself again, we want to offer you a FREE 30 minute Discovery Visit. During this visit, you and one of our highly specialized Physical Therapists will sit down one-on-one to talk about your unique problems and create a customized plan for YOU so you can get back to living the life you love. We'll get you back to playing on the floor with your little ones again - without any pain or worry! Start the journey to better health here!
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 Getting an MRI of the back instead of physical therapy for back pain leads to a waste of $4,793! Dr. Murphy here! Did you know that Physical Therapists can tell you more about what’s wrong with your body than MRIs? That may sound like a crazy claim, but it’s true. A lot of times, MRIs, x-rays, and other medical scans leave Dr’s in the wrong direction – which is why Physical Therapists (at least GOOD ones) don’t use them. What an MRI of the back DOESN'T show you! Let’s look at Back Pain for example. There are so many things that can cause pain in your back. You probably know the common ones (herniated disc, degenerative joint disease, pulled muscle) But here are some common causes that go overlooked:
If you’re suffering from any of these, but your doctor is only treating you for a disc issue, you will NEVER get better! There’s an equally long list for neck pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, and hip pain. “So I should get an MRI of the back and find out what’s really going on before I decide how to proceed, right?” I get asked often. NO!! MRIs, scans, x-rays, and imaging of all kinds can cause a huge confirmation bias. Over the past 5+ years, there have been multiple high-quality studies looking at MRI’s of the back in asymptomatic people each 50+. “Asymptomatic” means that these people have no symptoms – NO back pain of any kind. The results? Over 60% of people age 50+ have some kind of degeneration, herniation, or bulging in their lumbar spine. Now remember, the studies were done on people who DIDN’T HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS!! So if you’re having back pain caused by poor posture (or anything else on our big list from before), but an MRI of the back shows that you have a disc problem, your doctor is immediately going to start treating the disc problem – even though that’s not the cause of your pain! You’re going to spend endless time and money (and maybe even surgery) to fix something that’s not even bothering you, and your back pain will continue until you fix your posture. What should you do in lieu of an MRI of the back? Stop obsessing over your MRI of the back. Find a doctor (like a physical therapist!) who knows how to be objective and look for ALL the possibilities on our list, not just the common ones. You’ll get out of pain and stay out of pain when you address the cause of the problem, not the symptoms. We are happy to talk to you over the phone and answer any questions you have about this and your situation. We can offer you a recommendation of what we think is your next best step. Schedule a Free Phone Consult Today! Or shoot us an email! team@empowerptpilates.com   One of my dear clients - Sharon, aged 58 - was diagnosed with 2 disc herniations and "degenerating discs” in her lumbar spine.
She'd been suffering from chronic back pain for 10 years, but just in the past 3 months it had gotten increasingly worse... Getting out of bed was a struggle, gardening was out of the question, and just even going for a short walk made her back so stiff and sore that she just wanted to shut down. Sharon is tough though... She's got a high pain tolerance, and tries to "push through" no matter what. She tries her best to stay active, is very conscious about what she eats, and she is STRONGLY AGAINST taking painkillers. Which is why she felt so frustrated when the doctor “barely even looked at her”, spent only 15 minutes in the room with her, and told her she NEEDED to take painkillers, and just… rest. To make matters worse, a trip to a “specialist” two months later wasn’t much more helpful when her MRI revealed “2 disc herniations” and “degenerative arthritis” in her lumbar spine. Doctor said she was facing: -Injections and needed stronger painkillers -Potentially life altering, dangerous surgery - And that the "degeneration" in her back was irreversible and she needed to just “accept it” and “manage the pain”. BUT 6 months later… she was living life again pain free. How did Sharon make a full recovery in 6 months, without taking a single pill and without needing injections or surgery? Because at Empower PT + Pilates, we were able to diagnose the real, root cause of her pain. The BIGGEST problem today in traditional health care is the fact that most doctors and health professionals treat every single person with back pain exactly the same… Which means almost every person with a back injury is labeled as a “disc herniation” or “arthritic”… Often, there is: NO individualized attention. NO process of “figuring the problem out”. NO consideration of other more realistic causes such as weak muscles, stiff joints, or movement compensation. This leads to a DANGEROUS, systemic problem of treating symptoms instead of taking the time necessary to identify the ROOT cause of a problem. For Sharon, like MOST others we have helped with disc problems or degenerating discs, we realized that the root cause of her pain was NOT from her "discs" or "arthritis"...but it was from: -Scar tissue in the muscles and tissues along her spine (from inflammation that had built up because of repetitive stress). -Muscle imbalances and weakness in her core and hips that dated back to an old hip injury she had 15 years ago while skiing. -Poor movement habits that developed from compensation since she had been guarding her back for such a long time (this caused her to bend over when gardening or picking up grocery backs with poor form, making her pain much worse) These are all legitimate problems that will NEVER show up on an x-ray or an MRI. While x-rays and MRI's may tell you what is going on inside your back, they won’t tell you the important information of "WHY your back is hurting"... By being able to address these problems through a very structured, individualized, and detailed process of healing her body (naturally), she is now able to: - Garden 3 times a week WITHOUT needing advil. - Walk 4 miles EVERY DAY (without her back seizing up)! - Able to sit comfortably and go on long drives to Moab with her family and 2 grandchildren (without needing to pull over every 30 minutes to stretch her back). For Sharon, it all started when she claimed her very own FREE BACK PAIN ADVICE report from us, "7 Simple Ways To Finally END Back Pain & Stiffness...Without Taking Painkillers, Without Risking Surgery, and Without Having to See Your Doctor!". CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE BACK PAIN ADVICE REPORT. This report is unlike many other back pain products because it is NOT focused on only relieving your pain, but tells you how to IDENTIFY and ELIMINATE the cause of your pain… The goal of this report is NOT to give you a “magic pill” or a “quick fix”, but to give you actionable advice and help you take back control of your body without pain dictating your life. OR if you would like to fast track your recovery, you can apply for a FREE 30-minute Discovery Visit with me today where we can meet in person to get all your questions answered. To apply for this free visit, fill out this form telling us a little about what's going on and we will call you to let you know if you qualify! Can't wait to see you in the clinic soon. Sincerely, Casey Murphy P.S. If you want to contact me through email, send me your questions at casey@empowerptpilates.com and I will get back to you as soon as possible.  With the current shift to working from home this year, many of us are forced to work from our kitchen tables, couches, and even beds. Before this pandemic, the average American was sitting about 6.5 hours per day. These days, many of us who are now working from home are not only sitting more, we’re also no longer sitting correctly without office luxuries, our usual work stations, chairs, and desk setups. Does this sound familiar?
Have YOU been experiencing more back pain since working from home? Do you find yourself working from your bed, your couch, or dining room table, and unable to find a comfortable solution? Do you think this is common and something you’ll have to just ‘deal with’? A poor work set up and improper sitting for long periods are large contributors to neck and back pain. If this is something you are experiencing, you are not alone, and there IS a solution. Here are the top 4 common mistakes you are likely making with your work from home set up - AND some expert advice from a physical therapist on how you can change these habits to help alleviate your pain! #1: Not using a desk! If you have found yourself working at home without a desk, this is likely a large contributor to your neck or back pain. Our dining room, kitchen tables, and couches were not designed with ergonomics in mind. That cute dining room chair was not designed with an 8 hour work day in mind! Working without a desk can lead to poor posture, slouching, and ultimately a lot of strain on your neck and back. Over time this can lead to the pain, soreness and tightness you are feeling. #2: Moving your ‘work space’ from room to room throughout the day. Have you been trying to move throughout your living space during the work day, searching for a comfortable position to work in? Moving from room to room seems like a good idea... but in reality, you are likely just moving between slouched positions in each workspace. The spot on the floor in front of your couch is putting just as much strain on your neck and back as the dining room table! #3: Relying on your laptop... If you are working remotely from your laptop, this can be another large contributor to your neck and/or back pain. Laptops were designed just for that - the lap. The attached keyboard and low monitor position is not designed for a full work day. This screen positioning causes us to crane our necks forward, and the attached keyboard does not allow for readjustments and can cause strain in shoulders and neck. #4: Taking calls from your cell phone ...especially while also typing, writing, or making lunch.... all while holding the phone between your shoulder and ear! Holding this position for any amount of time creates tension not only in you neck & upper back but also in your jaw... which can lead to a whole new set of symptoms. So how do you fix these common mistakes? How can you set up a workspace that will help - not hurt - your back and neck throughout the day? And even more importantly... what is the root cause of this pain in the first place? Even though slouching on the couch during your work day may be new, and has likely been a large contributor to your current pain, it's not necessarily the cause... just the most recent factor that has brought to the surface a recurring problem. The real question is... what's the underlying cause? That’s where we come in. Join us for a FREE virtual workshop with back pain expert and physical therapist, Dr. Casey Murphy. Register here to learn more about how to fix these top 4 mistakes AND how to prevent your back pain from ever coming back again! Join us on Tuesday August 18th at 4pm (MST) for this free workshop and ask a physical therapist YOUR questions about back pain and working from home.  Can you believe it’s already June?? Time hasn't felt quite the same recently. Is that just me?
Summer is in full force, which means everyone has gotten back outside to enjoy the beautiful (and today, HOT) Colorado weather. But with your return to biking, hiking, or gardening... especially after months of staying indoors on the couch.... you might be noticing a few new (or returning) aches and pains. The past week I've talked to so many people calling to say their back has “flared up” again or they just can’t enjoy their favorite outdoor activities like they used to without popping pain killers. Because so maybe people are suffering from debilitating back pain right now - maybe that's you, or maybe you have a friend you can share this with - I wrote you this blog with some simple tips to help ease those aches and pains. Back pain is something you never think will happen to YOU... until it does! You’re going about your day without concern. Then suddenly… you feel a twinge in your back and you know immediately that something is not right. Your first thought is that it’s nothing and that it will go away on its own. You probably blame a poor night’s sleep or a muscle strain from doing chores around the house. The truth is when back pain “just happens out of nowhere” most of us have no idea or explanation to why. When it strikes, it leaves you suffering for longer than you ever imagined! What do you do when the pain suddenly stops you in your tracks? Most people do one of two things: 1. Nothing... and hope the pain “goes away” by the next morning. 2. Resort to pain pills every few hours for days! Neither of these are good options nor do they address the root cause of the pain. So let’s talk about it – there are so many different ways of finding pain relief other than pain pills or rest. I want to share some options with you that I teach my clients all the time so you can find relief NATURALLY— without relying on pain killers! My first tip to help ease back pain is to avoid sitting with your legs crossed. Look around, we all do it. However, this causes strain on your back as you twist and turn your hips and spine. Sit straight with both of your feet placed on the floor slightly in front of your knees. This will help relieve pressure on the spine. Another easy one to fix is your sleeping position! Do you sleep on your stomach? This is the worst possible position to sleep in with back pain and it will prevent you from getting better… Avoid this position at all costs and you will sleep better and wake up with less back pain. On the topic of sleep, try sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees and a small hand towel rolled up under your waist. This might be difficult to get used to at first, but if you can keep doing it, it decreases the amount of twisting and sagging of your spine. And if you sleep on your back, try placing a pillow or yoga bolster under your knees to reduce the tension in your lower back. Your core muscles are a huge part of your spinal anatomy and are very important when it comes to managing back pain. If we don’t use our core with day to day activities and protect our back, we’re likely to experience more aches and pains further on down the road. Pilates can be a great tool for learning how to correctly engage and strengthen your deep core muscles. In the same way that you brush your teeth twice a day to look after them, you need to look after your back. Try incorporating these simple daily routines to help ease and live with less back pain. I can’t promise you that ALL these things will work for you, but I do know these tips have been proven to help my patients (and myself) to reduce the risk of back pain! If someone you know is suffering from back pain, please pass this information on to them as these tips will help! For More Tips Download Our Free Back Pain Report!  When it comes to the CORE, most of us need to go back to the basics. This is especially for YOU if you're athletic... You have probably heard of the core and been told that it should be a part of your workout routine... right? I find this to be true for the most of the people I see. Everyone is aware that they need to add core strengthening or ab workouts into their life. However, most of them are doing exercises that are not beneficial (that’s for another post) and might even be harming them in the long run.... So we’ve heard about the core and we know we should do something about it... But do we truly know what it is, why it's important, how to connect to it, and what is the most effective way to strengthen it? As a physical therapist and Pilates instructor I have a lot of people coming to me for low back pain, running injuries, pelvic floor dysfunction, and shoulder or knee injuries.... and the common factor with MOST of these clients is that they have some sort of dysfunction with their “core”. And usually it starts with a lack of knowing what the core actually involves (hint: it's not your six pack), how to truly connect with it, and what exercises are best for it… "What do you mean, don’t I just crunch??” Not exactly... Ok, so what is the core? The core consists of four muscle groups: your diaphragm, your transverse abdominis, your pelvic floor, and the muscles along your spine called the multifidi. Together these all work together and form a cylinder-like system, kind of like a soda can. This is your inner core.  Your inner core system is responsible for regulating your intra-abdominal pressure as well as providing support, control, and stability to the spine and pelvis. In other words, this system is protecting you and preventing you from getting injured or suffering from back pain, hip pain, even knee or ankle pain. And because most of us aren’t aware of the inner core, our brain isn't telling it to do it’s job... at least not well. This results in other muscles jumping in to “help out” and provide extra stability and support when those core muscles aren’t. And this is no good - this compensation just leads to poor form, overworking certain muscles (maybe that “tightness” that you are feeling possibly in your hip flexors?), and eventually... pain. Ok so I hear you already asking, “Why should I care about this, I’m doing just fine with my workouts/running/daily activities?” Everything might be all fine and good now, but months or years from now all of this compensation may catch up to you.
If you have even minor back pain, hip “tightness”, any other aches or pains, had a baby, or had abdominal surgery.... there is a high likelihood you have a crack in your foundation. But no worries, this is something we can help you determine really quickly. If you're concerned your aches and pains might be caused by a dysfunction in your core - apply for our FREE 30 min Discovery Session (in person or virtually). In this session, you get to sit down with one of our specialist and get all of your questions and concerns answered - and there is zero commitment! Just click here to apply.  Over 80% of people will experience back pain at some point in their lives. And many of those people will have recurring episodes of back pain. The pain subsides, they think they’re out of the woods and then 6 months later it comes back. And then it goes away….and then only 3 months later it comes back and now it’s not going away so fast. And so on and so on.
And the person gets increasingly frustrated each time the pain comes back and now they worry about it happening just about every day. They can’t enjoy the active lifestyle they once had because either they physically can’t do those things anymore or even if they can, they are afraid it will cause the pain to come back. So why does the pain go away for a while and then come back? Here are the 5 reasons I have come across most often in my 10+ years of treating athletes and active people: 1. You Haven't Actually Done Anything to Fix the Problem.. This is by far the most common reason people’s back pain cycles on and off. When I meet people and tell them what I do for a living (physical therapist), so many people go on to tell me about their back pain and how it’s annoying, frustrating, etc. And when I ask them what they have done for it, the typical response is nothing… or they've just been taking pain meds! How can you expect your pain problem to get better if all you do for it is say a prayer at night and hope it will go away on its own!? And the more people have talked to me about their back problem (really any problem), I realize that a lot of people choose not to do anything because they simply don’t know which of the many options out there is the best choice for them. And they’re afraid of making the wrong decision or confused about where to start. So instead, they live in this paralyzing state of indecision and continued pain that limits their active lifestyle. This is why I set up my clinic to offer a few different free options to help people BEFORE they commit to us. It’s a way for people to learn what they can do for their problem and see what option works best for them. Ready to actually doing something about it? Inquire About Cost & Availability. 2. Past Treatment(s) Didn't Address the Underlying Issue Have you received some form of treatment in the past for your back pain, only for that pain to come back later? There's a good chance that the treatment you received (i.e. injections, medications, unspecific/rushed PT, etc.) only took care of the symptoms (your pain) and didn't address the underlying reason for your problem. It's like having someone help you bail water out of your sinking ship versus having someone help you plug the hole. It's the difference between constantly having to worry about it happening again and being able to enjoy the things you love to do without worry. 3.You Didn't Follow Through With Your Treatment Plan and/or "Homework" There are times when someone is getting great treatment that is working on the underlying cause, but when they start to feel much better, they decide to stop the treatment plan early...and a few months later they're back in with a "flare-up." And this "flare-up" may have been avoided had they seen their treatment plan all the way through and not quit just when the pain went away. Remember, addressing the underlying issue is key! Other times, people don't do their physical therapy "homework" - the tips and advice given to them to do on their own time. If you see us 2 x week for an hour each time, that's only 2% of your entire week. What you do in the other 98% will have a HUGE effect on your outcome. 4. You Progressed Your Activity Level Too Quickly Another classic reason for someone's back pain to come back... they start feeling a lot better so they decide that a 10 mile bike ride is okay to do... even though they haven't ridden in a couple months. Or they're feeling good because they're finally back to their at home workouts... and they decide the "boot camp" class that's free on youtube is a great idea. Or a friend asks them to do a charity 5k with them... I men, it's for charity so it's got to be ok, right!? You're probably chuckling right now... not because the examples are that funny, but because you know you've been guilty of this too. I understand that when the pain starts to go away, you get excited to do the things you love again. Our job is to help you make sure your activity level makes sense with your treatment plan - both short and long-term. Arrange a Free Phone Conversation with a Physical Therapist 5. The Rest of Your Life Isn't Healthy You don't sleep well. You're stressed. You work too much. You don't eat well. You get the idea... All these things play a role in your recovery and can affect your expected outcome - both the amount of relief expected and the time it will take to get that relief. We're here to help you find ways to live a healthier lifestyle year long, life long... not just for 3 weeks! Here at Empower, we're all about results that LAST. So there you have it - the 5 most common reasons back pain comes back. I hope this article is able to help you make a better decision for your health and if you think a friend or family member would benefit from reading this (or needs to read it), feel free to forward it to them. Let's work toward results that LAST. P.S. Join us for a FREE Virtual Back Pain Workshop on Wednesday June 10th 2020 at 6pm! You can save your spot here - limited availability, so don't wait... we will see you then!  What are the 3 things you MUST have to sport healthy joints and live pain-free & injury-free? Without one or more of these you are at a greater risk of pain, stiffness, and injury.... Let me explain... Flexibility is the full length of a muscle when stretched to end range (think how far you can stretch your hamstring). This is forced. Stability is a joint’s ability to stay put when outside forces are acting upon it. Think of this as your ability to control your movement, like balancing on one leg with perfect alignment with zero swaying or ankle wobble. Mobility is how much a joint (bone to bone) can move before being restricted by the surrounding tissue such as tendons, muscle, ligaments, and fascia. Mobility is moving your shoulder in a circle or your ability to move your hip freely. Unlike flexibility, this is not forced movement. Now that you know what each one is… Why are they important?? Well, they all affect each other. If we don’t have good stability we may lose our mobility. And despite what you may have been told... simply stretching will not improve your mobility. So yoga and only yoga will not keep you injury free... and in fact might even CAUSE injury. We need all 3 to move and function at our best. “True flexibility can be achieved only when all muscles are uniformly developed.” - Joseph Pilates Does your fitness or workout routine focus on ALL THREE? Does the treatment you are receiving for your back, knee, or shoulder work on ALL 3 of these? Most likely not… The focus on all mobility, stability AND flexibility in a holistic way is usually a HUGE missing component in many exercise/fitness routines AND even in some health and wellness treatments. Here at Empower, when we treat an injury we focus first on making it feel better with mobility (massage, dry needling, adjustments, joint mobilizations, etc. Then we add flexibility (dynamic stretching exercises) and then we MUST teach this area to protect itself going forward, which is stability. This combination is what gets YOU lasting benefits. Many treatment styles or methods only focus on one, maybe two of these components. And the one that gets left out is usually STABILITY. Stability is the control and protection of a joint, and we need this protection in order to stay pain and injury free. Our joints need stability to feel SAFE. If they don’t feel safe then, to compensate, we often sacrifice our mobility and flexibility to simulate that safety. So that stiffness you feel (aka your lack of mobility) may actually be a stability issue - and it's not going to get any better if your trainer just keeps making you do mobility drills over and over and over again. This is why the combination of working with an expert Physical Therapist and a certified Pilates-based rehab specialist is one of the best ways to improve overall movement, function, and physical health. So if you’re constantly foam rolling and/or stretching and not getting anywhere...you might be missing an essential component. If that weekly or monthly massage or chiropractic adjustment feels great but is only giving you temporary relief….you might be missing an essential component. You may require expert help to figure out what other healthcare providers couldn’t do for you. But here's the good news - with the right help, you will no longer have to deal with these injuries on an ongoing basis. I help hundreds of people each year find and fix that missing component and get them back to better health and movement. By looking at the body more holistically and focusing not just on the symptoms but on the ROOT CAUSE of your problem, I'm able to get you lasting results. If you want to know if I can help you, apply for a Free Discovery Session here. This is a 30 minute visit with an expert PT to help get you started on your road to recovery - and, even better, we can do a VIRTUAL video call in order to get you started this week. You've been dealing with this for too long already. It's time. Call us today. Or join our next 8 week Pilates series - all about creating the perfect balance of stability, mobility, and flexibility to help you improve your posture. You'll stand TALL & PROUD & stop having to worry about your low back pain in the middle of the night. Join us!  Are you suffering from lower back pain? Maybe you've recently started working from home and are spending long hours sitting in your dining room chair... Whether it's a new discomfort or something that's been bothering you for years, lower back pain affects most people at some point in their lives. In a majority of cases, lower back pain can be significantly reduced or completely relieved with Pilates. Nagging back pain can come at any age, and far too many of us are familiar with it. In fact, 8 out of 10 Americans will experience an episode of lower back pain at some point in their lives. It is one of the most common reasons for missed work and back pain sufferers are spending an average of nearly $3,000 a year in the U.S. on top of other medical expenses to try to combat it... and most of the time, they aren't getting any relief. The good news is that most back pain isn't caused by a serious medical condition, but rather by everyday habits like poor posture, exercise, or simply sitting too much. And it can be easily managed by physical therapy and Pilates. A combination of deep abdominal strengthening, postural awareness, and dynamic stretching exercises makes Pilates extremely effective in the prevention and treatment of lower back pain. However, it is also important to apply the techniques taught in Pilates into your everyday life. (You can read more about the many other benefits of Pilates here.) The Pilates exercises below will help you to connect with your deep core muscles so they can begin supporting your back again and remove any added strain. To really feel a difference, you’ll want to do this routine 3-4 times a week consistently. IMPORTANT: when dealing with any pain, it is always best to consult a physical therapist to get to the root cause of the problem before starting a program like this on your own. Remember to go slowly and gently, and always listen to your body—you should never do anything that hurts! If any of these moves do hurt or you don’t feel like you’re doing them correctly, I suggest you take advantage of our Free Discovery Session (virtual options available!). We specialize in back pain and Pilates-based rehab and can help you discover exactly what is causing your pain in order to help you learn to move correctly.  Cat, Cow & Tail Wag
 The Roll Down
 Single leg stretch (prep exercise)
 Bridge
 Swimming
Looking for individualized Pilates instruction tailored specifically to YOU and your body?Click here to apply for a Free 30 Minute Pilates taster with a certified Pilates instructor and see if you're the right fit for what we do. Available in-person or virtually so that we can meet you where you are!
P.S. If any of these movements bothered your back, please reach out so we can help! Text or Call 720-722-0685 or email team@empowerptpilates.com  Pilates is one exercise that can really make a difference in your health without taking a toll on your body.
Pilates is a form of exercise involving a series of movements that concentrate on core strength, posture, balance, flexibility, and control. Pilates was developed by German-born Joseph Pilates, who believed mental and physical health were closely connected, and practicing Pilates has been proven to improve overall wellbeing as well as general fitness. Here are just a few of the benefits and reasons why Pilates could transform your health
If you said “YES, I WANT THAT!” to any of these or all of these, then Pilates and working with our specialists just may be for you. Apply for our Free Pilates Taster and discover how Pilates can help you reach your goals. Or give us a call 720-722-0685 or email info@empowerptpilates.com with any questions. |
Empower PT & PilatesWe help you find a LASTING SOLUTION to back, hip, and pelvic issues so you can age with ease -without having to rely on painkillers, injections, or surgery! Archives
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