Answered: A Common Question About Pilates, Weights and Strengthening

This week’s topic is all about answering questions we get here at the clinic:

“Why don’t y’all do more strengthening stuff like Pilates or weights? “

How much time do y’all have, this answer might be long and complex…but I will do my best to make is short and sweet!

1. Long muscle is strong muscle. If you have a restriction/loss of range of motion (ROM), and we get you more ROM, you automatically have more strength and power, because you now have full use of the muscle (I could turn this into a lever arm/physics example, but I won’t!).
2. I am a German blockheaded physical therapist, so I won’t tell you NOT to stop doing something. But if you happen to develop more body awareness, or the ability to pace, and you can feel that your body needs to stop (running as far, lifting as much, you fill in the blank) doing as much of that activity to allow yourself to heal, you are on the right track.
3. American culture is all about “if a little is good, a lot is better” “no pain, no gain”. We are all about teaching the body to soften and feel, to learn when we need to rest, so that we can compete better in this marathon called life—pushing hard through the pain of a workout doesn’t make much sense.
4. There are a lot of good complementary workouts and modalities that go great with myofascial release. Chiropractic, acupuncture, essential oils all are very helpful in this process. Walking or “functional exercise” like making the bed without back pain or getting the stuff out of the basket at Costco without straining, leaking, or hurting is also good.
5. Bottom line: we like to focus on Myofascial Release. Getting your body back in alignment, getting you out of pain, and back to doing what you love. What might happen in the process is that you might taper doing some of the regular activities you do, and then do more stretching/feeling/taking care of yourself. When your physical body gets back in alignment, it’s great to return to whatever exercise you love—Pilates, running, or CrossFit.

I hope this helps explain our point of view. We are not here to tell you not to do all the things but learn to do what your body is asking for.

Make any sense???

Blessings and have a great week, if you have any questions or would like to visit more, please call us at 830.431.0773

Brenda

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Brenda Bryson, PT, MPT, LMT

I have been a physical therapist for over 20 years, and a student of John F Barnes Myofascial release for 15 years. I have had an open spirit, and a tight physical body from birth, so I not only teach clients daily about movement, but I also stretch/move daily. I am pleased to say, I have less pain and am more active at 46 than I was at 28. I love my dogs, and outside of work I live a simple life of being outside or on the ranch. I am a 5th generation Texan, and if you are from Fredericksburg, I am probably related to you. Knowing that we are all connected in some way, helps me when I’m writing or speaking, because I just imagine I am speaking to a good friend. Thanks for reading and following along with my blog — can’t wait to meet you in person, so , until then — be a blessing!

Brenda

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