I was very pleased to read George Ford’s ‘admission’ that ‘in recent months I’ve been doing more Pilates’ (George Ford dismisses the riches of R360 in his last hurray at the World Cup for England, October 15).
In the last six years I have done this too, and I wish I had discovered Pilates 50 years ago when I was playing rugby; I’m sure I would have recovered much faster from injuries and maintained a higher level of fitness with a much stronger ‘core’, which is very necessary in such a physical sport.
But Pilates and male psychology don’t seem to be related, unfortunately, as the classes I went to were about 10:1 in favor of women. So, thank you, George. I hope your example encourages other men to try Pilates. Don’t forget: it was Invented by a man.
Tim Heaviside
(Church Stretton in Shropshire).
Your encouraging article on walking football (The Beautiful Walk: England’s seniors take walking football to the world stage, October 17) neglects to mention the risk of damaging knees, which my husband (78) has already damaged playing this game. I understand from a nurse friend that this is very common among patients admitted to the hospital. Recommended treatment? Rest, then gentle physical therapy, with a recovery period ranging from six months to a year. He misses the camaraderie and other benefits too of playing rugby.
Margaret Evans
Wiesenthal, Worcestershire