Stay Active Pilates
Pilates is an exercise therapy that can benefit anyone regardless of their level of fitness or ability. Joseph Pilates was born in Austria in 1880 and originally designed his exercises for people disabled during the Second World War. The exercises concentrate on slow, measured, repetitive movements with the intention of strengthening and balancing lesser-used muscles as well as improving core strength.
Pilates will also improve posture and can help bowel and bladder problems in MS. Additional benefits are that it has no impact on joints and can assist in the prevention of osteoporosis. Strengthening and stretching your body improves muscle tone and increases flexibility. Learning to breathe correctly oxygenates the blood and increases circulation.
Joanne Taylor, is the pilates teacher at the Bedford MS Therapy Centre. She says: "Make pilates part of your daily exercise routine. The more you use it, the more you will benefit from your posture awareness, mobility and flexibility. Remember to be kind to yourself and set yourself small goals to keep motivated."
Here are some comments from people in Joanne's class:
"Pilates has helped me to remind myself to keep a good posture and the group therapy is very good."
"Before I had MS I used to fence but because of MS I found my muscles had tightened terribly. Through pilates I have found my muscles have strengthened in my left side and my posture has improved."
"I do pilates at home while I watch TV."
"I enjoy doing the spine twists and it strengthens the core muscles."
"I would recommend it and think everyone with MS should try it."
Currently pilates is very popular and there are many classes running at gyms and sports centres throughout the country. Like any exercise group you may have to try a number before you find one you are comfortable with. You could also see if there is a class running at an MS Therapy Centre near you.
To find an instructor or for further information contact The Body Control Pilates Association.
Barbara from Ontario, Canada shares her experience of pilates:
"I started pilates about four years ago with a personal trainer. I go to the studio once a week and then do some exercises at home. Some exercises I do lying down or I do bounce exercises on a large ball and can sit on it working the abdominals while I am on my computer. While bouncing I do heel lifts, toe lifts, arm raising and some stretches. As I see improvement in my ability to do these things I am motivated to do more. My trainer helps identify the areas of weakness that I need to work on. By increasing the strength in some muscles that had become weak, I have been able to reduce my number of falls even though my balance is worse.
For the past four years I have been living with a partial foot drop as a result of a relapse. Nobody suggested that there were opportunities to improve this. I was prescribed an ankle foot orthotic to lift the toes. My pilates trainer noticed my inability to raise the toes on my left foot and gave me an exercise to do at home. I worked diligently at it and am now able to raise those toes and have strengthened the muscles required to improve my gait. My physiotherapist is working with me on this as well, using functional electrical stimulation.
One of the greatest satisfactions for me is to see even a small improvement in any area. We have to live with this condition but we don't have to sit back and let it consume us. My self-esteem has improved and I do not tire as easily. In fact I can go into pilates sessions exhausted and come out energised."
If you've got a new sport you would like to include, groups you have joined or tips you'd like to pass on email the MS Trust's Information Team or ring us on 01462 476700.
MS Trust Information Service
If this information doesn't answer your questions, contact the MS Trust's personal information service on 0800 032 38 39 or by email
