Pilates and Your Immune System

The primary job of your immune system is to distinguish self from non-self, which enables it to recognize and take appropriate action against anything that shouldn’t be in your body, including abnormal and damaged components. A healthy immune system can seek out and destroy germs and cells infected by germs as well as recognize and destroy tumor cells. Along with the common-sense steps you can take to protect yourself from being exposed to or infected with COVID-19 and other illnesses, keeping your immune system in optimum working order is your best defense.

Be aware that as we age our immune system’s ability to fight off illness begins to wane. It also can be weakened by overuse of antibiotics as well as smoking and stress. Beyond that, other conditions can compromise immunity by disabling immune cells, as can autoimmune conditions including lupus, RA, Type 1 Diabetes, asthma, leukemia, lymphoma.

Given the importance of the immune system, what can you do to keep it healthy?  Here is one suggestion for modulating the immune system:

Exercise: Be sure to get regular, moderate physical activity. A study from the UK published in 2020 looked at the effect of exercise on immune function. The authors wrote that it is widely agreed that regular, moderate intensity exercise is beneficial for immunity and singled out Pilates. Also note that some experts believe more vigorous exercise without an adequate period of recovery may suppress immune function. Read the 2020 research meta-analysis article from the BJSM that states Pilates is a superior from of exercising without depleting the body.

https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/54/21/1279.abstract