Pilates, which is designed to tone, lengthen, strengthen and align your body, can do wonders for your muscles and spine. The six principles of Pilates are concentration, control, centering, fluidity, precision and breathing. By moving from one Pilates movement to another you increase your body's flexibility and also improve posture, which can have a positive effect on soreness in your muscles, including those sore thigh muscles.
Sore Muscles and Posture
Sore muscles can be the result of a multitude of reasons. It could be attributed to how you lift weights or how you perform your cardio sessions. Poor posture can also be a cause of tight, achy muscles in the back, arms and legs, according to the Kansas Chiropractic Foundation. Not only can Pilates help alleviate soreness through flexibility movements, but it can also maintain and improve posture. A poorly aligned posture can make muscles work over time to keep your body upright, leading to muscle weakness. Improving your overall muscle balance and flexibility helps alleviate those overworked muscles.
The Thigh Muscles
There are four muscles that make up the thighs: The hamstrings in the back of your thighs; the quadriceps in the front of your thighs; the abductors of the outer thigh; and the adductors of your inner thigh. These muscles can be strained and overworked during any type of lower body workout, if you have poor spinal alignment, and through everyday use. The Pilates' method consists of low-impact flexibility movements emphasizing the thighs, abdominals, lower back and hips, according to MayoClinic.com.
Other Pilates Benefits
Pilates doesn't just help alleviate sore muscles and help improve posture. Pilates can also improve coordination, sleep, strength and stamina. It also helps reduce fatigue, stress and low-back pain. You don't need a lot of specialized equipment to practice Pilates, as many movements only require floor space and a mat to give you some cushion as you stretch.
Considerations
Incorporate additional strategies into your Pilates routine to further ease sore muscles. Ice sore muscles or get a massage from a licensed therapist. To avoid future soreness, incorporate adequate rest between workouts. Do Pilates at least two times per week to see results, according to MayoClinic.com. Give your muscles at least one day of rest in between Pilates sessions.
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Writer Bio
Danielle Clark has been a writer since 2009, specializing in environmental and health and fitness topics. She has contributed to magazines and several online publications. Clark holds a Bachelor of Science in ecology and environmental science.