Hips and back popping Pilates

[snowday01]

I've recently tried some online Pilates classes but I've noticed that my hip and back (I think around the base of my spine) feel like that are clunking or popping as I lower my legs for lots of the exercises. It's not painful but definitely uncomfortable and a bit unnerving. I've heard of clicking hips but it's not clicking much more or a clunk noise and a popping sensation. Just wondering if this is normal and if anyone has any advice - I really want to continue but I'm worried I'm going to cause myself some damage. I can't really afford to pay for any professional classes right now otherwise I would go and ask the advice of an instructor.

I would see a GP and maybe get a referral for physio/chiropractor. Be very careful with your back!

A good Pilates instructor would make sure that you were doing the exercises in a safe manner, and advise you on strengthening your back safely. Do any local sports centres offer Pilates?

Are you tucking in your pelvis and holding in your core and glutes? You need to do that with pretty much every move to protect your back

I've been thinking of seeing a GP but I know the wait list for physio in my area is ridiculously long - I was offered PGP pregnancy physio 4 weeks after my baby was born
I'm not in any pain it's just a very weird and uncomfortable feeling. I will call the GP and see if they can make a referral and add me to the wait list. No local sports centres with classes bar a local Pilates company but that's £70 for a block that I just can't afford right now.

I guess it's probably best to give up for now which is a shame but as you say not worth risks with your back

Sorry just read that - I've been tucking pelvis but not holding glutes so I will try that too and see if it makes any difference - fingers crossed! Im only 35 and didn't realise just how much flexibility I've lost since having babies - it's shocking!

I would strongly urge to to find an in person physio led Pilates class.
They will check you're doing the movements properly, or adapt them to work with your physical limitations and hopefully build you up to doing them properly.
If you're looking for plain simple physio, you're better just sorting yourself privately than waiting months for an NHS one.

I get that too, in any exercise where you're on your back and you lower a straight leg slowly. It's only in one leg and just like you say, it's like a dull internal clunk. I've had it for years and there's no pain, it feels more like the mechanics of the joint. I saw one of those little tik-tokky videos on facebook recently, where a Pilates teacher said it happens when you aren't holding your core hard enough. And lo and behold, it worked - when I really held in my core, I didn't get the clunk! The aim is to flatten the small of your back into the mat. So if you get the clunk a lot, give that a try.

I get the clunky hip thing in pilates. I asked my teacher about it and she said it's fine. But I have to say I find it really unpleasant and stopped doing pilates. I have really flexible hips so I assume it's something to do with the shape of my joints.

I had that hip clunking thing, it’s really alarming. As I improved core strength I was able to hold something so that I can make it not happen anymore.

I have hypermobility and my hips clunk like that no matter what I do

I get this, it’s my SI joint in my pelvis. I’ve seen an osteopath. One cause can be weak glutes so I am trying to do a lot of glute stuff as well as seeing the osteopath

Oh and I’m hypermobile as well.