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Yoga or Pilates for Stiff Joints?

| June 25, 2014 Comment

Yoga or Pilates for Stiff Joints? Even if you have arthritis, you want to stay fit and flexible with exercises like yoga or pilates. Watch this video to find out what’s best for sore, stiff joints!

Expert: Timothy Roy PT, CSCS

Transcript

Yoga and Pilates both promote stretching and flexibility. And both can offer relief from joint stiffness. But you need to do them carefully, because if done incorrectly they can aggravate joint soreness.

I see more injuries from yoga than pilates in my clinic, therefore, be careful not to push yourself too far when doing yoga.

There are many popular forms of yoga, from steamy Bikram style to fast-paced Ashtanga, but for easing joint soreness and stiffness your best bet is a gentler, self-directed form.

Hatha and Anusara yoga let you go at your own pace and do poses as you can, with no pressure. Stretching, holding, and then changing positions can improve flexibility. But forcing yourself into poses that cause pain, or having to scramble up and down from the floor can be very difficult if you have arthritis in your knees or hips.

I recommend experimenting with various poses and see how you feel. If you find it’s just too difficult or that it increases joint stiffness and soreness, you can always try pilates.

Pilates offers a wide range of stretches and core-building exercises that can be done with or without the assistance of pulley-activated pilates equipment. These machines have names like the reformer and Cadillac, and are your best choice for getting maximum stretch and minimum joint pain.

Every exercise can be modified to accommodate your level of ability, range of motion, and amount of joint stiffness. That may be why so many dancers and athletes use pilates to recover from injuries.

In my experience, pilates is a better option for most people with chronic joint pain and stiffness. To learn more about easing stiffness associated with arthritis, watch the other videos on this site.

Last Modified: 2013-12-04

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Category: Fitness, Videos

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