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What can Pilates do for the tri-athlete?

What is Pilates?

• Pilates is a form of exercise that emphasizes core stability and alignment as a means of effectively developing strength and stability in the whole body.
• Equipment is designed to condition the entire body using positions and movements, which ultimately correct body alignment and balance.
• It is different from other forms of exercise because it also focuses on muscle lengthening and flexibility, which can help minimize muscle imbalances and postural problems.
• Pilates is great for injury prevention and as a cross-training technique because it improves strength and stability for the entire body.

How can Pilates help me improve my sport?

Improve core strength and stability: having a strong core (abdominal, back and pelvic floor muscles) will prevent injury to your back when biking, swimming, and running. It will also help to optimize the strength and power of the muscles in your shoulders, hips and legs.

Improve the stability of joints especially ankle, knee, hip, and shoulder. The common sprains and strains associated with athletic activities can lead to joint weakness and instability. By emphasizing strength, motor control, and weight-bearing activities; Pilates exercises help develop the joint stability athletes need to prevent re-injury. More importantly, Pilates exercises do not overload bones or joints; thus, they minimize wear and tear on the body.

Improve strength and flexibility: over time, endurance activities can lead to muscle imbalances due to overdevelopment and tightness of certain muscle groups and weakness in others. Pilates helps to restore normal muscle length and to strengthen underdeveloped muscles.

Improve balance to give the athlete better agility and overall performance. Good balance and spatial awareness are important to achieve precision and control.

Prevent injury: By integrating Pilates into your regular exercise routine you decrease your chance of injury, thus allowing you the ability to optimize your training time for that next big race!

The Cypress Center is a physical therapy and wellness center. Our facility offers both Pilates-based physical therapy and private Pilates sessions taught by certified Pilates instructors. For LA Tri Club members, we offer a free musculoskeletal assessment and consultation by one of our licensed physical therapists. Please visit us at www.thecypresscenter.com or call us at 310-573-9553 for any questions regarding our physical therapy and Pilates services.