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The Scientific Benefits of Daily Movement
For professional athletes, maintaining peak physical health and performance is essential. Daily movement is a critical component of achieving this goal, as regular physical activity can have numerous benefits, including improved cardiovascular health, reduced risk of chronic diseases, improved mood, and enhanced cognitive function. In this article, experts at sor. Studios will explore the benefits of daily movement, with a particular focus on the importance of low-impact and reformer Pilates training for professional athletes.
Improved Cardiovascular Health
Many professional athletes rely on their cardiovascular health to perform at their best, and low-impact Pilates can help to improve this aspect of physical fitness. Low-impact Pilates involves performing exercises that are gentle on the joints and muscles, reducing the risk of injury and allowing for more extended periods of training. Additionally, Pilates can improve cardiovascular health by increasing circulation, strengthening the heart muscle, and reducing blood pressure.
Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases
For professional athletes, the risk of chronic diseases can be a significant concern. Regular low-impact Pilates training can help to reduce this risk by improving overall physical fitness and strengthening the immune system. Pilates can also help to prevent and manage conditions such as osteoporosis and arthritis, which can be common among athletes.
Improved Mood
Mental health is just as important as physical health when it comes to performing at your best and low-impact Pilates aids in improving both. Pilates training can reduce stress and anxiety, promote feelings of relaxation, and improve overall mood. Additionally, Pilates can help athletes to develop a mind-body connection, enhancing focus and concentration.
Enhanced Cognitive Function
Athletes rely on their cognitive function to perform at their best, and Pilates training can help to improve this aspect of physical fitness. Pilates exercises involve a high level of focus and concentration, which can help to improve cognitive function and enhance overall mental clarity. Additionally, Pilates can help to improve balance, coordination, and proprioception, which are essential for sports performance.
Reformer Pilates Training
For professional athletes, reformer Pilates training can be an excellent way to achieve the benefits of Pilates while also improving overall physical fitness. Reformer Pilates involves performing exercises on a specialised piece of equipment (reformer), which provides resistance and support, allowing for more challenging and effective workouts. Reformer Pilates can help to improve strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination, all of which are essential for athletic performance.
Reduced Risk of Injury
When athletes are in their competitive seasons and long before retirement, they are consistently exposed to high load, high intensity schedules. Thus, the utmost importance should be placed on regular low-impact training. The ability to maintain a style of resistance training that ensures a sustainable stimulus to muscle growth and joint integrity, can both complement the intensity of athletes' training stressors whilst also promoting longevity. Reformer Pilates style training is able to challenge, support, and educate athletes through many phases whether it be for in-season maintenance, rehab or performance enhancing.
Therefore, low-impact and reformer Pilates training, like we offer at sor. Studio, are critical components of maintaining peak physical health and performance for professional athletes. Pilates can improve cardiovascular health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, improve mood, and enhance cognitive function. By incorporating low-impact and reformer Pilates into their training routines, professional athletes can achieve these benefits while also improving overall physical fitness and sports performance.
References:
6 Benefits of Pilates for Athletes. USADA. https://www.usada.org/spirit-of-sport/education/6-benefits-of-pilates-for-athletes/. Accessed 21 April 2023.
Reformer Pilates: Everything You Need to Know. Verywell Fit. https://www.verywellfit.com/reformer-pilates-what-it-is-benefits-how-to-do-it-4588025. Accessed 21 April 2023.
Pilates for Athletic Conditioning. ACE Fitness. https://www.acefitness.org/education-and-resources/professional/expert-articles/6032/pilates-for-athletic-conditioning/. Accessed 21 April 2023.
Pilates and Mental Health: The Benefits of the Mind-Body Connection. Pilates Method Alliance. https://www.pilatesmethodalliance.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=508439&module_id=45
