Table of Contents
EXERCISES FOR PATIENT WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS
What is the right type of exercise for endometriosis?
Chronic pain is commonly seen in endometriosis, which makes it is difficult to start the exercise. However, choosing the right exercise is important as symptoms might flare up, if you choose exercises that are not appropriate.
1. Posture correction:
As endometriosis is associated with inflammation, chronic inflammation can cause scarring in the areas like the pelvic and abdominal cavity. This causes severe pain, leading to the formation of a guarding mechanism resulting in bad posture, weakening, and tightening of the muscles. Good posture helps improve alignment and muscle balance.
2. Pilates:
Pilates is an excellent form of exercise which works on posture, controlled movement, and breathing. Pilates focuses on the diaphragm, transverse, multi-fundus, and pelvic floor muscles. It helps decrease adhesions around the pelvic area and the abdomen. This exercise also helps in improving pelvic floor muscle integrity, which helps in decreasing pain.
Pilates increases muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory endurance. Pilates exercises like clamshell, hip release, hip rolls, spinal rotation etc. are examples of some simple and low-impact exercises to start with.
3. Yoga:
Yoga offers multiple benefits for women with endometriosis. It helps in relaxation, relieving discomfort from the symptoms. A randomized control study concluded that yoga helps in reducing chronic pelvic pain due to endometriosis and improved quality of life.
4. Swimming:
Swimming is a good exercise to start. The properties of water have less impact on the joints and lower abdomen. Swimming is a gentle way to become active and strengthen your muscles and improve your cardiorespiratory system.
