Frequently Asked Questions about Pilates

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Frequently Asked Questions about Pilates

Will Pilates Give Me Longer Muscles?

It is not possible to make your muscles longer. However, Pilates exercises can improve flexibility in the back, hip, and hamstring areas by making the connective tissues more pliable.

Will I Bulk From Pilates Exercises Like With Lifting Weights?

First of all, not everyone bulks from lifting weights (click here for resistance training FAQ). Pilates mat exercises are not likely to dramatically increase muscle size because they are performed using a low load (e.g. low weight or no weight) with control and precision being used for each repetition – much like yoga. People can increase the endurance and muscle tone of certain muscles by doing Pilates but are not likely to bulk.

Will I Increase My Amount of Lean Muscle By Doing Pilates?

To get leaner, you need to add more muscle. Being lean means you have a high amount of muscle mass and very little fat and requires a lifestyle combining proper diet and balanced exercise (as well as genetics). However, people with good posture can appear to be leaner simply by how they carry themselves. This is a result of a combination of improved flexibility and increased abdominal and back strength – which can be provide through a regular Pilates regimen.

Can Pilates Help Heal Back Pain?

Pilates exercises have been used by many professionals to help prevent and alleviate back pain. In fact, more and more chiropractors and physical therapists are attending Pilates training programs to incorporate into their practice with patients. In addition, many of the exercises are similar to exercises already prescribed by physical therapists and chiropractors for rehabilitating people with low-back problems. However, few clinical studies have examined the impact of Pilates on back pain, so it has yet to be clearly proven. One study of 22 adults conducted at Florida Atlantic University found that a 12-week program of Pilates reduced back pain. These results are promising, but more studies need to be conducted to make official research claims about Pilates’ role in promoting back health.

Source: Michele Olson, PhD, FACSM and Carrie Myers Smith, “Pilates Exercise: Lessons from the lab”, IDEA Fitness Journal (Nov./Dec. 2005).