Skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, and skating are just a few of the winter sports we love in Colorado! Unfortunately, there may be a time (often at the end of the day when the body is tired and the mind not as focused) when an injury occurs as you glide down the slopes or across the ice. Pilates is ideal for snow sports injury rehabilitation to help you recover quicker and stronger.
Increased Core Stability to Get You Back on the Slopes
Pilates rehabilitation will help your recovery by focusing on core stability and balance. Such an important area for all activities in life, strengthening the core will help you heal, improve how you move, and get you on the slopes again with increased strength and power.
Almost all snow sports activities require maintained balance as you change directions in movement. One of the primary focus areas of Pilates is the building of strong core muscles that will provide a platform for strength and agility. Rehabilitation focuses on building core muscles that provide the needed pelvic stability and proper alignment for hips and legs. A stronger core will help you recover quicker and provide a stable base as you transfer the weight of your body going downhill or across the ice this winter.
Rehab Your Joint Mobility and Motion
Snow sports injuries often affect the joints, tendons, and supporting muscles around the knees, ankles, and hips. Pilates rehabilitation focuses on healing and improving mobility in a controlled and safe manner. Rehab can correct alignment issues caused by injury or from poor posture habits.
Pilates helps improve flexibility of all joints and tendons to prevent overuse and imbalance. While Pilates rehabilitation programs are designed to target injured areas, the approach also provides additional focus on all surrounding and supporting systems. Effective rehabilitation embraces the whole body as it works to stabilize movement. Strengthening the deep muscles that support your core and joints, Pilates also provides ancillary benefits such as improved breathing and lowered stress.
Incorporating stretching and myofascial release techniques as part of rehab can give tremendous benefit and help accelerate recovery. Considered a holistic rehabilitation approach to injury, Pilates and supporting techniques address all areas – hamstrings, shoulders, lower back – to develop stamina and power.
Mind and Body Connection so You Can Enjoy Colorado!
Many rehabilitation clients must also rebuild confidence after a winter (or any) sports injury. We understand that sustaining an injury can spook athletes and make them hesitant to get back out there and have fun! Pilates is one of the few rehabilitation techniques that can build both a healthy body and focused mind.
Pilates is an integrated method of exercise and strength training. But, in addition to the physical exercise, the mind is also engaged to focus conscious attention on the breath and movement. By understanding how your unique body works, you can train your thoughts, improve your concentration, and hone your focus.
For all sports enthusiasts, Pilates rehabilitation centers on consciously engaging the neuromuscular system to produce speed and force for more efficient motion. By increasing your mind-body connection, your mental state provides insight into both your physical and psychological performance. A trained mind-body connection results in quicker physical reactions and improved confidence in your abilities!
Are you suffering from a snow sports injury or looking to improve strength so that you can enjoy winter activities? Contact us! We are trained to help you increase your strength and confidence with Pilates!