Pilates, and preventing neck and shoulder disorders
Shoulder biomechanics and spine alignment are related to neck-shoulder pain.
Researchers from McGill University, in Montreal, Quebec studied the effects of Pilates.
First, the details.
- 19 adults were assigned to a treatment group twice, 12 weeks apart.
- A Pilates training program (2, 1-hour sessions per week)
- A control group
- Seated posture; abdominal strength; shoulder range of motion; and maximal shoulder flexion, during which neck, shoulder and trunk kinematics, and the activity of 16 muscles were recorded.
And, the results.
- The Pilates training program improved abdominal strength and upper spine posture.
- There was also stabilization in core posture during shoulder movements.
The bottom line?
The authors tell us, “Deficits in these functional aspects have been associated with symptoms in the neck-shoulder region.†They conclude that the “results support the use of Pilates in the prevention of neck-shoulder disorders.â€
11/8/09 21:45 JR