It is very frustrating for those people who have dedicated themselves to a life of healthy activity and proper nutrition when age begins to slow them down. They have technically done everything right. Ran track in college, kept up with their running in their later years, ate healthy and maintained their body weight, and still find that they can’t escape the injury of aging.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that is incredibly painful, because it is the most uncomfortable when the body is in movement. This causes extreme stress on the joints as a result of the thinning and wearing down of the cartilage within the body. Wherever a joint meets a bone there is a potential danger for osteoarthritis. While not commonly categorized as a “sports injury”, osteoarthritis directly targets and negatively affects those that desire to live very active lifestyles.
Mostly osteoarthritis is treated with pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medications, but there is another active relief that will keep osteoarthritis pain at bay while keeping a healthy lifestyle and fit physique at the top of the “aging athletes” injury prevention list.
Pilates is an excellent form of rehabilitation for those suffering from osteoarthritis. And here’s why: Stretching is key to the overall well being of your body’s health. It is very common that lifetime athletes invested a lot of time in pushing the limits of their body, elevating their hearts, increasing times, jumping higher, swimming faster, and hardly taking days off for recovery however recovery and stretching is king when it comes to maintaining overall health. Even some of the most attuned athletes still don’t make stretching a priority, even though they have heard the sermon a thousand times.
If osteoarthritis is a problem, now is the time to take the out your dusty notes and begin adding active stretching to your routine. Once you feel the relief of Pilates, you will wonder why you didn’t make it a priority on a very consistent basis.
Deep stretching, like all forms found in Pilates, releases important nutrients into your body, particularly into the tendons and the muscles. These nutrients help keep your body healthy and also help minimize the risk of injury that can be caused when the chemistry within the body is lacking the proper balance.
Pilates will soothe the pain that causes suffering. Lengthening the body through a series of Pilates circuits, whether that is mat Pilates or machine Pilates, will allow a safe and effective “use” of the injured areas. As a result these areas will be “worked out”, addressing locked joints, tight muscles, and trouble spots and releasing the tension therein. This type of active stretching is gentle for those that suffer from the condition, but also allow for movement within the joints keeping them engaged in activity without the pain of high impact exercise.
One other thing that Pilates does in the way of helping an aging athlete, is that it’s deep stretching will help fight fatigue that most osteoarthritis injuries can cause. Being alert, and able to live your life pain free while maintaining an active lifestyle is an ideal position for you to be in. Pilates is the portal that is standing between you and a life of eliminated tension.