[lightbox link=”https://www.naplespilates.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/rsz_dollarphotoclub_54516619.jpg” thumb=”https://www.naplespilates.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/rsz_dollarphotoclub_54516619-300×200.jpg” width=”300″ align=”left” title=”pilates for seniors” frame=”true” icon=”image”]According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three adults over the age of 65 fall every year. Some of these falls may lead to a few scrapes and bruises, while others lead to more serious injuries, like head traumas and hip fractures. Some falls can even be fatal. In 2013, 743,000 older adults were hospitalized because of a fall.

What if you could take steps to prevent this from happening to you? You can, with the help of Naples Pilates. The European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity, or EGREPA, performed a review to determine both the mental and physical benefits of Pilates among elderly individuals. According to the review that included researching studies on Pilates and fitness for older adults, Pilates can help with a number of issues that seniors face, like:

• Stability
• Static and Dynamic Balance
• Flexibility
• General Strengthening
• Increased Range of Motion in the Joints
• Reduced Joint Restrictions

The first benefit, stability, is an important factor for avoiding falls, as are static and dynamic balance. But how can Pilates in Naples actually help seniors become more stable?

Increasing Stability with Pilates for Seniors

First, let’s define a few terms for better understanding.

• Posture is defined as the stereotypical alignment of your limb segments and body. It described your ability to hold the weight of your body in as balanced a way as possible without putting too much stress on any one area of your body.
• Balance is your ability to maintain a proper center-of-gravity.
• Static balance and posture refer to when you are standing, while dynamic balance or posture occurs when you are walking or running.

In order to increase your stability, Pilates focuses on helping you maintain a proper static and dynamic balance and posture. Balance and posture have a close relationship to one another; one cannot be maintained if the other isn’t. When they are both working together, you have more stability while on your feet.

The first step to stability is adjusting your posture. This takes work, but Pilates for seniors will help you build up the strength you need to have an upright spine. It will teach you how to train the core muscles of your body, the back, side, and front torso muscles, glutes, and hips, so each of the muscles will eventually understand that they must work together.

By improving your posture, strengthening those core muscles, and learning to allow your mind and body to connect during your Pilates class, you’ll automatically improve your balance.

What About Osteoporosis?

Certain conditions, like arthritis and Osteoporosis can damage the spine and make it nearly impossible for an older individual to stand up straight. If this has happened to you, don’t give up hope on ever improving your posture and balance for more stability. Pilates focuses on strengthening your muscles in an effort to support the best posture. While you may not be able to stand upright completely, there are ways of balancing your muscles so you can maintain a better center-of-gravity and place less stress on your joints and muscles.

Whether you’re a senior trying to improve your stability or a family member looking for answers on how to prevent a loved one from falling, Pilates, Fitness & Therapeutics Inc. Wellness Center is the answer to better posture, improved balance, and greater stability.