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fitbody EXERCISE FOR
SPINE HEALTH SMART TRAINING BEATS BACK PAIN by Michael Curran
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counsel that any well-designed workout must honor the health and mechanics of this important part of the body. Dr. Karen Erickson, a New York City-based chiropractor and spokesper-
A
son for the American Chiropractic Association, sees firsthand why alignment is crucial, especially if an individual has a history of back pain. “Good stability and good flexibility are the big factors for keeping the spine healthy,” she says. No matter what exercise modality one chooses to practice, Erickson advises beginning conservatively, as benefits can be achieved without pushing the level of difficulty.
Core Strength Counts Developing muscle strength throughout the torso is key to maintaining the cor- rect spinal curvature for a strong back. In addition to the muscles that directly attach to the spine, the spine is also stabilized by deep stomach strength, strong pelvic floor support and the upper thigh muscles. Pilates is well-known for its focus on such core conditioning. “Pilates uses apparatus expressly designed for working the
abdominals and the back,” explains Lolita San Miguel, from her studio in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. “Most of our work is in the supine or prone positions [lying down], so that the vertical pull from gravity is lessened, and the body can be worked with a more correct align- ment, and thus more effectively.” One of a small group of active practitioners who studied with Pilates method founder Joseph Pilates, San Miguel is a living testa- ment to the benefits of the practice. When this 75-year-old isn’t doing her daily Pilates, she’s engaged in other physically demanding activi- ties. “Pilates makes life sweet for the senior,” she says.
October is National Spinal Health Month
14 Phoenix
s exercise reaches beyond the realm of pure athletics to include fitness fans everywhere, people have noticed that their efforts to stay in shape often are thwarted by back pain. That’s why knowledgeable trainers
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