Which complaints should I rather not do Pilates?
Pilates is a wonderful remedy for physical and mental problems and is also a great way to get fit. However, even this method of training carries some risks that can cause damage if used incorrectly or inappropriately. Patients with chronic illnesses or unexplained pain should consult a doctor and get advice beforehand.
This is especially strongly advised in the case of diseases of the spinal column or musculoskeletal system, such as excessive curvature of the spinal column (thoracalkyphosis) or joint inflammation or wear and tear (arthritis, arthrosis). Furthermore, in the case of an acute herniated disc, training is taboo, unless training is prescribed by a doctor. The same applies to patients with back muscle complaints, for example pain, pulled muscles, stiffness or weakness.
If training is nevertheless carried out, it is possible that, in the worst case, a herniated disc is triggered or a muscle is torn. Muscle tension or cramps can result either from incorrect loading or from the fact that the muscle is not able to be loaded at all due to the illness. This can also cause a nerve to become pinched.
All this is of course anything but beneficial to health. Likewise, prolonged pain indicates that incorrect training has taken place. It is very important that the training is instructed by an expert who has been professionally trained.
Many trainers are unprofessional, as there is no uniform standard for trainer training yet and therefore no guarantee of quality.A professional supervision guarantees appropriate training and maximum training success, because sometimes the exercises are only a few centimeters or the eagerness of some participants exceeds the goal. Furthermore, this prevents patients from performing certain exercises incorrectly. Self-study with videos and books is also strongly discouraged, because the risk of getting injured by doing the exercises incorrectly is too high.
Another obstacle can be the number of participants in a course. 6-8 persons are optimal, with more participants it will be difficult to guarantee an optimal trainer support. Inexperienced or completely unathletic people should have a few hours of individual training beforehand so that they are not overstrained during Pilates training.
