The Small Barrel and Thoracic Hyperkyphosis

The Small Barrel, like the Spine Corrector and the Ladder (Large) Barrel, is distinctive for its curved shape (Figure 1). This allows for many advantages in the Pilates Contrology method of body conditioning. One that we would like to point out here is working with the rounded curves of the spine, specifically thoracic hyperkyphosis. Figure 1. Small Barrel. Permission Simona …

How Do We Learn More About Our Bodies?

Image credit: freepik Source: https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/woman-doing-pilates-with-ball_3393957.htm It is easy to take our bodies for granted, and truly embracing physicality and wellness is often challenging. However, getting in touch with your body can lead to a lot of benefits. If you’re in tune with your body, you’re better able to notice slight changes in your health, and pre-emptively track how your body reacts in …

Post-Exercise Massage and Muscle Stiffness

Post-Exercise Massage Massage is commonly administered to reduce muscle stiffness and enhance recovery from exercise. However, the effect that massage has on muscle stiffness following exercise has not been researched. A study from Singapore published in Journal of Sport Science & Medicine examined the effect of post-exercise massage on passive muscle stiffness over a five-day period. Study The trial was a randomized …

Fascial Thickness and Aging

Fascial Morphology FIBROUS FASCIAL TISSUE COMPOSITION. PERMISSION JOSEPH E. MUSCOLINO. KINESIOLOGY – THE SKELETAL SYSTEM AND MUSCLE FUNCTION, 3RD EDITION (ELSEVIER, 2017). The morphology of fascial connective tissue may play an important role in locomotor mechanics. The connective tissue, more specifically the deep fascia, can impact range of motion in two ways. First, fascia is connected to the underlying muscle along …

Maintain Vim and Vigor Throughout Your Senior Years

PHOTO COURTESY OF PEXELS.COM. Many people see aging and senior years as a steady descent, that losing energy, strength, and health is part of the natural order of things. While some of the effects of aging during our senior years are beyond our control, there are opportunities for maintaining your well-being through day-to-day choices. Here is practical advice for retaining vim …

Regular Exercise Decreases Chronic Muscle Pain

Chronic Muscle Pain and Exercise Chronic muscle pain is a significant health problem and is associated with an increase in pain during acute physical activity. Study A study by researchers from the Universityof Iowa examined if regular physical activity has a role in the development of chronic muscle pain. The study used mice as subjects and divided them into three groups: A group of mice …

Spinal Postures. Permission: Dr. Joe Muscolino.

Elongation of the Spine

Biomechanics of Elongation of the Spine POSTERIOR AND RIGHT LATERAL VIEWS OF THE SPINE. PERMISSION DR. JOE MUSCOLINO. KINESIOLOGY – THE SKELETAL SYSTEM AND MUSCLE FUNCTION, 3RD EDITION (ELSEVIER, 2017). Elongation of the spine is often spoken of by Pilates instructors as one of the objectives for clients to achieve. But what exactly is elongation of the spine and how is it achieved biomechanically? …

Feldenkrais – A different way to relieve years of back pain

** This article is from the Washington Post by Lisa Rien. You can view the full article HERE.** In my first Feldenkrais class, we lay on our backs with eyes closed and drifted our eyeballs left to right and back again. We shifted our heads from side to side as our eyes followed in their sockets. Then we changed it …

Superficial Back Line Myofascial Meridian. Permission: Dr. Joe Muscolino.

The Evidence of Anatomy Trains Myofascial Meridians

Anatomy Trains Myofascial Meridians SUPERFICIAL BACK LINE MYOFASCIAL MERIDIAN. PERMISSION JOSEPH E. MUSCOLINO. KINESIOLOGY – THE SKELETAL SYSTEM AND MUSCLE FUNCTION, 3RD ED. (ELSEVIER, 2017).MODELED FROM TOM MYERS’ ANATOMY TRAINS ART. The Anatomy Trains Myofascial Meridians concept by Tom Myers is quite popular amongst manual and movement therapists. However there has been little scientific evidence to support this concept until recently. …

Thoracic Hyperkyphosis. Permission Dr. Joe Muscolino.

How Pilates Can Treat Thoracic Hyperkyphosis, also known as Rounded Back

Pilates can treat Thoracic Hyperkyphosis When a client presents with hyperkyphosis of the thoracic spine (upper and middle back) to a Pilates instructor, there is no doubt that Pilates can treat thoracic hyperkyphosis. In fact, there are many approaches that a Pilates instructor can use to help improve the client’s condition. And for each of these approaches, many Pilates exercises can be …