 Many of our clients that come to Pilates Santé have pain due to excessive inflammation. The inflammatory response is a normal process of recovering from injury. However, when the inflammation becomes excessive, it slows the natural healing our bodies. A lot of our clients are attempting to wean off medications, and working with your diet is a very effective method of doing so. We now have the research to prove there are very effective ways to significantly reduce inflammation through diet. Common foods to eliminate that cause inflammation: • Refined carbohydrates such as white bread & sugar • French fries & other foods • Soda & other sweetened beverages • Processed meat such as hot dogs & sausages • Excessive alcohol Foods to add that manage or help decrease the inflammatory process: • Berries • Fatty fish i.e.: salmon, tuna & sardines • Green, leafy vegetables • Avocados • Mushrooms • Green tea • Turmeric • Bone broth • Olive oil • Nuts i.e.: almonds & walnuts These healthy foods cannot only help with musculoskeletal injury & pain, however can also prevent systemic disease of all kinds including: • Diabetes • Cancer • Heart disease If you’re looking for a specific anti-inflammatory diet prescribed for your needs and restrictions, we highly recommend seasoned nutritionist Tammy Parkinson. Nutritionally, Tammy works on a variety of health complexities ranging from inflammatory issues, to auto immune disorders, to metabolic and blood work complications to basic lifestyle, weight management and wellbeing modifications. Learn more about Tammy’s work and experience at her website here: https://www.mybodyfirm.com/
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 Hypermobility Syndrome (HMS) is not completely understood yet, but is grossly defined as a connective tissue abnormality which causes excessive mobility of joint or soft tissues of the musculoskeletal system. It also impacts cardiac tissue, smooth muscle of the genital system, and the gastrointestinal system. Often HMS is misdiagnosed or overlooked because of the myriad of symptoms that can present with it. Common complaints & injuries for HMS patients include, but are not limited to:
Common conditions that can cause hypermobility:
How is HMS currently diagnosed by physicians & other health practitioners? Often by use of the Beighton test or score Beighton Score of ≥ 4/9 & Arthralgia (joint pain) for > 3 months in > 4 joints.  The Beighton Test: 1. A passive dorsiflexion of the little finger above 90 degrees, (1 point for each hand). 2. Bringing the thumb passive against the ventral side of the forearm, (1 point for each thumb). 3. Hyperextension of the elbow above 10 degrees, ( 1 point for each elbow). 4. Hyperextension of the knee above 10 degrees, (1 point for each knee). 5. Flexion of the trunk, whit knees straight & palms flat on the ground, (1 point). Other diagnostic factors can include:
Treatment often consists of pain management & therapeutic exercises which include: proprioceptive & motor control, stabilization & strengthening of affected joints & tissues. So... How can Pilates exercises help? The Pilates method of exercise is based on quality of movement, control and body awareness teaching clients with HMS how to move more safely. Exercises on equipment such as the reformer & cadillac can use resistance springs in an anti-gravity position to safely stabilize & strengthen the hypermobile areas of these clients. At Pilates Sante, a large majority of our clients have HMS, (often not medically diagnosed), who benefit greatly from a regular and safe Pilates-based home exercise program, in addition to private sessions administered by a physical therapist or highly trained pilates instructor.  For more information about HMS, see resources below.
Resources: *https://www.physio-pedia.com/Hypermobility_Syndrome *https://www.hypermobility.org/types-of-hms |