Pilates and Wrist Pain

Do you have wrist pain when you are exercising?

Do you find it challenging to do push-ups or Planks because of wrist pain?

Do you avoid wrist weight-bearing exercises because of pain, lack of strength or lack of flexibility in the wrists?

 

Wrist pain can become a common complaint with new or existing exercisers.  Wrist pain oftentimes prevent us from effectively exercising.  But what many of us don’t know is that wrist pain can become less if we exercise correctly and gradually.  

Learning proper technique and set up with all exercises, Pilates, Yoga and general conditioning is the key to exercising without wrist pain.

 

Common causes of wrist pain during exercises:

1. Previous wrist trauma….such as a previous fall or injury
2. Poor technique with push-ups, planks and any other upper body weight-bearing exercises…..”collapsing” into the wrists
3. Poor flexibility of the wrists….our wrists become less flexible as we get older, especially if we avoid weight bearing exercises on our hands or if our job requires extensive keyboarding
4. Poor strength of the wrists and upper body

 

How Pilates can help decrease wrist pain and inflexibility:

1. Pilates teaches proper technique with all upper body weight- bearing movements.
2. Pilates helps to strengthen all the muscles in the shoulder girdle  to encourage more support throughout the whole body.
3. Pilates offers a gradual progression with exercises so that everyone can gradually improve strength of the entire upper body chain.
4. Pilates offers exercises to improve wrist flexibility.
5. Pilates offers exercises to improve wrist strength.

 

Sometimes as we are building strength and flexibility of the body, we might experience a small degree of wrist discomfort while that flexibility and strength is improving.  There are times we need to consult a physician for further evaluation.

 

When to go to the doctor for wrist pain:

1. Sharp wrist pain
2. Swelling at the wrist
3. Numbness or tingling in the hands
4. A fall or trauma has caused the wrist pain

 

As you embark upon or continue to progress your exercise program, take the time to educate yourself on what is appropriate discomfort and when it is time to consult a specialist.  It is very important to learn the proper techniques with all exercises and a well-educated and certified instructor can help you learn these techniques.

 

ABS Pilates provides the most comprehensively trained and certified Pilates instructor in the area.

ABS Pilates is located in Sunbury, Ohio.  It services the Sunbury, New Albany, Gahanna, Westerville, Johnstown and Columbus areas.

ABS Pilates offers in-studio Mat and Equipment-based Pilates for all levels of fitness.  

ABS Pilates offers Online Mat Pilates for all levels of fitness.

All classes are taught by Amanda B. Smith, licensed physical therapist and certified Pilates instructor with more than 30 years of experience.