Clinical Pilates is a form of low-impact exercise that focuses on posture, core stability, balance, strength and flexibility.
Developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century, Pilates retrains and recruits the deep stabilising muscles around the spine. Originally developed for dancers and gymnasts, Pilates has been adapted by health professionals to rehabilitate and prevent injury in patients.
As a physiotherapist, I regularly use Clinical Pilates with my clients, whose ages vary and who present with different injuries.
The benefits I see with Clinical Pilates include:
- improved general physical wellbeing
- improved posture and balance
- increased core stability
- increased flexibility and muscle tone
- safe and effective injury management to treat the underlying causes of injury
- prevention of future injury.
It is important that Clinical Pilates is tailored and specific to the individual. An individual assessment can identify any pre-existing musculoskeletal conditions and identify what aspects need to be targeted.
A condition I commonly see that benefits from Clinical Pilates is low back pain that’s associated with bulging discs or arthritic/degenerative changes. Clinical Pilates allows me to target multiple factors that may contribute to the pain or injury.
In the case of low back pain, Clinical Pilates allows me to improve patients’ low back flexibility, balance, pelvic stability, core strength and endurance.
In Clinical Pilates, spring-loaded equipment, such as a reformer or trapeze table, is often used. These spring-loaded machines allow the exercises to progress by altering and changing the level of resistance. It also allows for the exercises to become more challenging once various milestones and goals are reached.
If you want to know whether an individual Clinical Pilates program will benefit you, your doctor or physiotherapist should be able to give you more information.
Jason Lee APAM
B. Physiotherapy
Malvern East Physiotherapy
Jason is happy to answer any questions you may have, simply send an email to [email protected]
