Is Pilates Safe for Osteoporosis?


Osteoporosis. A scary word for some, something unknown to others. So what is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis, is a very common systematic disease whereby the bones become weakened and fragile, making us more susceptible to breaks or fractures under even very mild stress. This is a condition that can affect both men and women, however it is most common in post-menopausal women. At Elite we work with several clients who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, so why do they choose pilates?

It has been scientifically proven that inactivity can cause a loss of bone mass, therefore its important to be physically active in order to improve bone health increase bone density, strength and muscle mass and improve balance, range of motion and posture. Bone is dynamic tissue, meaning that, just like muscle, it gets stronger in response to forces that it has to resit -enter weight bearing exercise and resistance exercise.

Pilates helps to prevent falls

Because it is so easy for those with osteoporosis to fracture the bone, it’s very important that we reduce our risk of falls.Because pilates focuses on posture, balance and alignment, it improves our mobility and increases our body awareness and can help to reduce our risk of falls.

Reformer pilates for osteoporosis

The reformer is a weight bearing machine that uses springs for resistance. This piece of equipment works on strengthening and aligning the body whilst offering incredible support and as such is a great option for those with osteoporosis.

Remember that if you do have osteoporosis and are looking to get started with pilates, it is always recommended that you start of with a 1:1 mobility assessment. A lot of the traditional pilates repertoire must be modified for our clients with osteoporosis and as such this is the safest and most beneficial way of getting started. To book your 1:1 just email info@elitepilates.ie

Leave a Reply