While the famous Pilates Method continues to convert long time fitness enthusiasts to its way of whole body conditioning and training, even its most ardent supporters understand that pilates exercise does come with its own set of limitations.
Not A Complete Fitness Routine
Some fitness experts argue that although Pilates is commonly billed as a ‘whole body’ conditioning system, it does not represent a complete fitness routine or discipline.
According to some fitness experts, pilates exercise program should not be your sole means of fitness or movement. It must be augmented with other forms of exercise in order to complete your fitness routine.
Insufficient Cardiovascular Benefits
So what are the major limitations of the Pilates exercises? Some health experts suggest that Pilates practice does not supply enough cardiovascular benefits to sustain a healthy body.
Because Pilates exercises does not exert the body or contain much high impact and high output movements, some fitness experts believe that it may not provide enough cardiovascular benefits.
Does Not Build Muscle Mass
Another limitation of pilates exercises is that it does not build muscle mass. To some, this is actually a benefit of pilates because it does not build the bulky muscles associated with other forms of exercise. But for others who are seeking to build muscle mass, pilates may represent a limited discipline.
Ability To Integrate Into More Traditional Rehabilitation Formats
Another significant limitation of the Pilates method has to do with controversy surrounding its ability to integrate into more traditional rehabilitation formats.
While some pilates experts recommend pilates to patients undergoing some kinds of rehabilitation therapy, some doctors argue that other strength and conditioning exercises are better suited for some patients.
For instance, some doctors recommend that patients with certain conditions, including osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, osteogenesis, imperfecta, and Osteomalacia should be treated with more conventional forms of rehabilitation therapy.
At the very least, these doctors suggest, the patient should discuss their options extensively with their doctor and therapist before plunging into a Pilates program.
Some Of The Benefits Are Exaggerated For The Sake Of Promotion
Finally, critics of Pilates exercises argue that some of the physical conditioning benefits of pilates are exaggerated for the sake of promotion. Many commercial Pilates systems emphasize that regular practice can result in long and lean muscles.
Some health experts argue that these claims are exaggerated in order to promote and sell Pilates systems. Even professional Pilates instructors and experts agree that pilates should be viewed more as a whole mind- body system rather than as a means to achieve a perfectly sculpted body.
Other Limitation Of Pilates
Critics point that pilates instructors nowadays make use of exercises that Joseph Pilates did not invent. This decreases the authenticity of this exercise regime. It further proves that for marketing strategies and advantages the term pilates is being used deceptively.
Originally, pilates was derived from physical therapies. It is also a rehabilitation therapy. However, the methods used in Pilates for physical therapy may not conform appropriately to the doctrine and physical therapeutic knowledge.
Trainers claim that exercising with Pilates reduces the danger of hyperthrophic muscles. But, pilates cannot avoid this problem just like it cannot fight any other disease.
The pilates equipments that claimed to be unique and distinctive, actually seem to have been derived from some pre-existing exercise equipment. Example: The low chair is like a staking pommel. The high chair is like a pommel. The pedipull looks like a modified pulley machine etc.
The controlled movements of pilates exercises that require coordination and strength along with smaller number of repetitions are believed to be pioneering. Thus, even this aspect of Pilates receives criticism.