Why Your Back Hurts — and How Pilates Can Help

If you’ve ever walked away from a workout feeling your lower back light up when you were trying to work your core, you’re not alone — and you’re not broken. In fact, what you’re feeling is incredibly common, especially among adults who sit most of the day or haven’t been taught how to use their core properly.

Let’s break it down.

Why Your Back Hurts (Even When You’re “Strengthening Your Core”)

When most people hear “core,” they think abs — sit-ups, crunches, planks. But your true core is a deep system of muscles that includes your transverse abdominis, multifidus, diaphragm, and pelvic floor. These muscles work together to support your spine from the inside out.

When those muscles aren’t firing well (which is common), your body calls in reinforcements — usually your hip flexors, rectus femoris, and lower back extensors. These muscles aren’t meant to stabilize your spine 24/7, so when they take over, you end up with tightness, poor movement patterns, and eventually, pain.

Add poor posture, long hours at a desk, and shallow chest breathing to the mix, and now your spine is under stress from all sides.

How Pilates Helps

At Lighthouse Pilates PT in Hollywood, FL, we approach back pain from the source — not the symptom.

Pilates helps you:

• Reconnect with your deep core muscles through slow, controlled movements

• Improve breathing mechanics that help decompress your spine

• Rebuild spinal alignment and segmental control

• Strengthen the glutes and hips, which support better posture and reduce back strain

Instead of just treating the pain, we retrain your body to move better — so the pain doesn’t keep coming back.

Who Can Benefit?

We work with:

• People dealing with chronic lower back pain

• Post-rehab clients who feel like PT didn’t go far enough

• Active adults who want to move better, not just harder

• Desk workers, parents, weekend warriors — anyone who wants a smarter relationship with their spine

You don’t need to be in crisis to take care of your back. Pilates can be part of your prevention plan — or your long-term recovery.

Visit Us in Hollywood, Florida

At Lighthouse Pilates PT, we combine movement science with practical care to help you move through life with less pain and more strength. If you’re in Hollywood, South Florida, or anywhere in Broward County and you’re tired of nagging back pain, we’re here to help.

Reach out to book a session, or stop by the studio to learn more. Your spine will thank you.