Term Paper on "Pilates for Lower Back Pain"

Term Paper 8 pages (2342 words) Sources: 4

[EXCERPT] . . . .

BASI Pilates Lower Back Pain

BASI Pilates for Lower Back Pain"

San Francisco

The lower back is often a source of continual pain, and is in fact an area of the body that people seek pain treatment for more frequently than almost any other, as well as being the most common cause of absenteeism at work in the U.S., as per workers compensations claims. (Field 1274) Frequently, chronic low back pain is a primary reason for individuals to seek and potentially become addicted to narcotic pain medication. Additionally, many individuals overuse over the counter analgesic (which have a high potential for toxicity) and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) (often a cause of stomach or even vascular and cardiac damage). BASI Pilates is a core muscle training program that can, when applied correctly alleviate and even eliminate chronic lower back pain through training that includes balance and strengthening of abdominal and back muscles and achievement of awareness of neutral body posture that supports the spine and reduces fatigue on muscles.

Anatomical Description of Lower Back

Introduction

Body

BASI Pilates Regiment (Abdomen and Lower Back)

Case Study

Conclusion

Works Cited

Anatomical Description of the lower back:

The lower back is the lay term usually given to the lumbar and sacrum portions of the spinal column and all the muscles and connective tissues that surround them. The spinal column is composed of 33 interlocking vertebrae and the sacrum, the lowers five vertebrates plus the scrum make up what is known as the lower back. This are of the back is frequently a source of pain as there are many stressors and/or injuries/diseases that can effect it as well as the stressful posture of continual sitting or standing or lifting using back instead of leg muscles can create superficial strain or deep muscle strain on the area. http://www.sjhc.london.on.ca/sjh/programs/di/lower_spine.htm

Introduction:

The lower back is often a source of continual pain, and is in fact an area of the body that people seek pain treatment for more frequently than almost any other, as well as being the most common cause of absenteeism at work in the U.S., as per workers compensations claims. (Field 1274) Frequently, chronic low back pain is a primary reason for individuals to seek and potentially become addicted to narcotic pain medication. Additionally, many individuals overuse over the counter analgesic (which have a high potential for toxicity) and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) (often a cause of stomach or even vascular and cardiac damage). Any of these medications can have devastating effects on the body and they do not treat the source of pain, they simply mask the pain temporarily. In many cases a patient is never referred to treatment that does anything more than mask the pain, unless surgical intervention is required or discussed and physical therapy is recommended as a stop gap to surgery or post surgically.

When a patient is given a narcotic analgesic such as morphine, the drug stimulates the same receptors as do the enkephalins and thereby reduces pain. The area of the brain most affected by the enkephalins and narcotic analgesics is the limbic system (also referred to as the emotional brain), where they diminish the suffering component of pain. When asked if a narcotic medication has helped them, some patients state that they still feel the pain but it does not bother them anymore. Besides addiction, the narcotic analgesics have the side effects of respiratory depression and constipation,

Myslinski 132)

Low back pain that persists long after initial injury is one of the most difficult types of pain to treat and relieve, and continued use of pain medication can result in tolerance as well as potential addiction, an already discussed fact.

Stehlin 28) it is for these reasons and others that pain management needs to focus on alternative treatments for low back pain and specifically on movement treatments that focus on the source rather than masking the pain symptoms. "The primary goal in treating pain should always be to eliminate the cause. The best results come from mending the injury or controlling the disease. If this goal is beyond reach, then the secondary goal would be to treat the pain itself."

Myslinski 132) as was stated earlier exercise or movement therapy is not always prescribed and often when it is patients are non-compliant unless it is offered in a clinical setting, though the reason is not clear above. Many believe the reason clinicians are reluctant to offer non-clinical movement therapy is that they are overly concerned about re-injury. The truth is that movement therapy done correctly can be one of the greatest pain source treatments and has many other benefits as well, not the least of which is possible weight loss, as the overweight condition often exacerbates or prolongs injury and pain symptoms of the lower back.

BASI Pilates, or Pilates in general is very helpful for people with lower back pain, as the source of this common chronic pain is often a physical imbalance between the flexor and abductor muscles. In general the back and abdomen contain both types of muscles and the imbalance occurs when they are not working together to generate movement, i.e. strain and overuse of back muscles with limited use of balancing abdominal muscles. The overarching goal of Pilates is to strengthen and balance the core muscles of the abdomen and the back, all other movement generates from this core therefore the whole of the body will be balanced and strengthened when one incorporates core strengthening and potentially adds additional muscle training once the core is strengthened and balanced. (BASI Pilates Exercise Book 7-8)

Body:

There are several sets of Pilates exercises that work together to strengthen the core and significantly impact improvement or elimination of back pain, accompanied by greater range of motion and lasting strength. As the Pilates repertoire works deep postural muscles that are frequently underutilized the spine is more effectively supported in neutral alignment, reducing overall stress on the area significantly, as the body is designed to spend the majority of its time in neutral alignment.

Pilates exercise system to promote back health

The Pilates exercise program

Equipment usage is also crucial to some of the exercises in the Pilates repertoire, though many of the exercises can be done without the specialized equipment, alone at home on an exercise mat.

Important principles of the Pilates exercise program include:

Use of mental focus to improve movement efficiency and muscle control

Awareness of neutral spine alignment, or proper posture, throughout the exercises

Development of the deep muscles of the back and abdomen to support this posture

Use of breath to promote mental focusing and centering

Creating length, strength, and flexibility in muscles

The exercise system is usually taught in one of two formats:

Using the unique Pilates equipment in private, or semi-private, sessions

Group mat classes not using equipment ("Pilates exercise system to promote back health" (http://www.spine-health.com/topics/conserv/pilates/pilates01.html)

Pilates equipment

The Pilates equipment uses the resistance of springs to create effort. The principle piece of equipment is called the Reformer and consists of a sliding platform anchored at one end of its frame with springs. The platform can be moved by either pulling on ropes or pushing off from a stationary bar. Thus, exercises include the challenge of moving the platform and maintaining balance on a moving surface (if sitting or standing). See Figure 1a and 1b to view examples of some exercises done on the Reformer.

Another Pilates machine is called the Cadillac and consists of a padded platform with a cage-like frame above it. From this frame various bars or straps are attached by springs. See Figure 2a and 2b to view photos of exercises done on the Cadillac.

A third piece of equipment, the Wunda Chair consists of a small bench-like platform with a bar attached with springs. Exercises are done by pushing on the bar while either sitting or standing on the bench, or standing or lying on the floor. See Figure 3a and 3b for photos of chair exercises. Several other pieces of equipment unique to the Pilates system are likely to be encountered at Pilates studios. ("Pilates exercise system to promote back health" (http://www.spine-health.com/topics/conserv/pilates/pilates01.html)

Mat exercises

Usually taught as part of a group class, mat exercises primarily focus on strengthening the muscles of the trunk and hip and increasing the flexibility of both the spine and hips. While the scope of the mat program is limited compared to the machines, there are many mat exercises that illustrate the Pilates principles. See Figure 4a, 4b, and 4c for photos of some simple mat exercises.

Lately, Pilates has merged with other movement techniques, such as yoga, or use of an exercise ball. This promotes creative integration of the Pilates principles into a greater range of exercises in the mat class setting. ("Pilates exercise system to promote back health" (http://www.spine-health.com/topics/conserv/pilates/pilates01.html)

Fig 1a: Reformer: arms

Fig 1b: Reformer: legs

Fig 2a: Cadillac: leg springs

Fig 2b: Cadillac: roll back

Fig 3a: Wunda Chair: arms

Fig 3b: Wunda Chair: leg lunges… READ MORE

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