Complete Pilates & Fitness Blog

Her Search for a Back Pain Cure

Active life

Before the pain started, it seemed unlikely that Vicky would suffer from back pain.  She led an active life and was very sporty. Her exercise routine included tennis, running, cycling, windsurfing and skiing.

Then, while on training walk, pain erupted in her lower back.  ""The pain was constant and often excruciating," she says. "I couldn't stand or walk for more than a few minutes. I couldn't even sit at the dinner table – I had to kneel."  After a year-and-a-half of pain, Vicky was feeling suicidal and ended up in a psychiatric hospital. She took six months' sick leave from work.  he spent years searching for a cure for the pain. She consulted specialists up all over the country – from orthopaedic surgeons to faith healers.

Then, all of a sudden, the pain erupted in her lower back.  ""The pain was constant and often excruciating," she says. "I couldn't stand or walk for more than a few minutes. I couldn't even sit at the dinner table – I had to kneel."  After a year-and-a-half of pain, Vicky was feeling suicidal and ended up in a psychiatric hospital. She took six months' sick leave from work.

Surgery and Physical Therapy helped ease the pain, but taking up pilates was the lifestyle change that is allowing her manage her back pain over the long term.  "I'm nearly back to my old self. "I walked home from my pilates class the other day," she says. "It's a two-hour, seven-mile walk!! Before pilates, I couldn't have done anything like that."

Her pilates instructor identified a problem that no one, including her, had spotted – her poor posture. "I would never have believed that improving your posture could have such an impact on pain," she says.

Then, all of a sudden, the pain erupted in her lower back.  ""The pain was constant and often excruciating," she says. "I couldn't stand or walk for more than a few minutes. I couldn't even sit at the dinner table – I had to kneel."  After a year-and-a-half of pain, Vicky was feeling suicidal and ended up in a psychiatric hospital. She took six months' sick leave from work.

She remembers how she used to slump backwards when she was standing, putting pressure on the lower back. She also never gave much thought to how she sat at her desk.

It's possible that exercising had contributed to her back pain because of poor technique, causing muscle imbalances and weak buttock, back and core abdominal muscles.

Two years of pilates has nearly restored Vicky to her former self. "I'm not 100%, but I'm getting there," she says. She now leads an active life and has taken up skiing and cycling again.

For Vicky, back care involves more than just twice-weekly pilates classes. "It's a life-long commitment to looking after my body," she says. "I spend around 20 minutes every day doing some stretching. I'm constantly thinking about how I'm sitting, walking or standing. I'm just more careful now about how I use my body."

Active life

Before the pain started, it seemed unlikely that Vicky would suffer from back pain.  She led an active life and was very sporty. Her exercise routine included tennis, running, cycling, windsurfing and skiing.

Then, while on training walk, pain erupted in her lower back.  ""The pain was constant and often excruciating," she says. "I couldn't stand or walk for more than a few minutes. I couldn't even sit at the dinner table – I had to kneel."  After a year-and-a-half of pain, Vicky was feeling suicidal and ended up in a psychiatric hospital. She took six months' sick leave from work.  he spent years searching for a cure for the pain. She consulted specialists up all over the country – from orthopaedic surgeons to faith healers.

Then, all of a sudden, the pain erupted in her lower back.  ""The pain was constant and often excruciating," she says. "I couldn't stand or walk for more than a few minutes. I couldn't even sit at the dinner table – I had to kneel."  After a year-and-a-half of pain, Vicky was feeling suicidal and ended up in a psychiatric hospital. She took six months' sick leave from work.

.

Surgery and Physical Therapy helped ease the pain, but taking up pilates was the lifestyle change that is allowing her manage her back pain over the long term.

"I'm nearly back to my old self. "I walked home from my pilates class the other day," she says. "It's a two-hour, seven-mile walk!! Before pilates, I couldn't have done anything like that."

Her pilates instructor identified a problem that no one, including her, had spotted – her poor posture. "I would never have believed that improving your posture could have such an impact on pain," she says.

Then, all of a sudden, the pain erupted in her lower back.  ""The pain was constant and often excruciating," she says. "I couldn't stand or walk for more than a few minutes. I couldn't even sit at the dinner table – I had to kneel."  After a year-and-a-half of pain, Vicky was feeling suicidal and ended up in a psychiatric hospital. She took six months' sick leave from work.

She remembers how she used to slump backwards when she was standing, putting pressure on the lower back. She also never gave much thought to how she sat at her desk.

It's possible that exercising had contributed to her back pain because of poor technique, causing muscle imbalances and weak buttock, back and core abdominal muscles.

Two years of pilates has nearly restored Vicky to her former self. "I'm not 100%, but I'm getting there," she says. She now leads an active life and has taken up skiing and cycling again.

For Vicky, back care involves more than just twice-weekly pilates classes. "It's a life-long commitment to looking after my body," she says. "I spend around 20 minutes every day doing some stretching. I'm constantly thinking about how I'm sitting, walking or standing. I'm just more careful now about how I use my body."

Come visit Complete Pilates & Fitness in Santa Clarita / Valencia CA today!

22800 Lyons Ave. #120

Santa Clarita, CA 91321