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Using Pilates Principles for Rehabilitation
What is Pilates?
Pilates is an exercise program developed in the early 1920’s by Joseph Pilates,
who brought it from Germany to the United States in 1923. He was a boxer and
performer who worked as an orderly in intern camps during WWI. While there,
he developed strengthening exercises and equipment to develop core stability.
His exercise program was embraced in the US by dancers to help them gain
strength and flexibility in their extremities, while maintaining core stability.
Pilates has been receiving increased attention over the past few years. Most
physical therapists have used many of these techniques with patients as part of
their treatment regimen for years.
Pilates techniques affect the entire body. Instead of isolating muscle groups, the
entire body is involved, integrating the upper and lower extremities (including
alignment principles) with the core musculature. Mental imaging, focus and
breathing patterns are used to reduce stress and accessory movement, while
emphasizing static or dynamic core stabilization. The principle of strengthening
while lengthening muscles is critical in providing long term benefit of an exercise
regimen. Pilates principles help to improve strength, flexibility, balance,
coordination and posture.
How do Pilates exercises impact the body?
The body tends to take the path of least resistance – it uses muscles that are
already strong, which leads to overuse. Pilates helps people:
How does the therapist work with the patient?
Research has found that for long term effectiveness, the patient needs to have a
role in and responsibility for their own recovery. Manual therapy helps to control
pain and to regain flexibility and mobility in soft tissue and joints. Passive
treatment by a therapist alone often results in temporary improvement, at best.
The body will often revert back to dysfunctions that led to symptoms in the first
place. Ultimately, exercise is what helps to maintain better function and
prevention of return of symptoms by integrating muscle balance and flexibility
principles.
When a physical therapist involves the patient in training how to activate his or
her weaker muscles using core stabilization and Pilates techniques, the therapist
helps the patient become more active in daily, work and recreational activities.
The therapist and patient work together at the clinic while the patient continues at
home, creating a total program for improving function, decreasing symptoms
and promoting long-term health. Pilates-based equipment helps to assist and to
challenge individuals as appropriate for their goals and stage of rehabilitation.
A physical therapist with the appropriate background and training to promote
good quality of movement is critical in providing an effective exercise regimen. A
movement specialist, like a physical therapist, can work with patients to develop
specific exercise programs that meet their unique needs, addressing both
maintenance and progression needs. One of the biggest challenges in promoting
an effective exercise regimen is to cue patients to use the correct form,
modification, assistance or resistance with a given exercise that is individually
appropriate. If a patient does not have adequate instruction on how to perform
an exercise correctly, he/she may easily become flared-up. The same exercise
that can potentially help an individual can aggravate symptoms if there is no
focus on promoting good quality of movement. Programs can address needs
ranging from very basic levels to advanced programs for elite athletes with sport-
specific choreography.
Although patients may present with a specific area of discomfort, pain is most
often associated with stiffness in one area and excessive movement in another
area. The area with excessive movement is usually where pain is present. The
therapist can identify the area that is stiff, work with the patient to improve
flexibility and, thereby, reduce the shearing forces of excessive movement that
are causing pain and inflammation. It is important for the patient to be
empowered to recognize and build an awareness of what is causing his or her
symptoms in order to help avoid aggravating symptoms. The patients learn to
focus on stretching where it is most needed to improve flexibility. In addition,
patients must learn to develop the ability to concentrate on activating specific
muscle groups to promote muscle balance in their bodies.
What do we offer to maintain what you have learned in the therapy sessions?
An effective Pilates exercise routine emphasizes maintenance of correct form
and promotes quality of movement. At PhysioFit, we feel that it is important to be
able to offer a program of Pilates mat and equipment classes to address fitness
as well as maintenance options for people who want or need more guidance than
they have with an independent program. Classes are small and are taught by a
licensed physical therapist that pays close attention to each individual’s needs
and monitors correct form for everyone. The equipment we have that was
designed using Pilates principles can supplement mat-based exercises and
provide some variety in the exercise routine. We also offer an individual
maintenance or Pilates-based exercise program. Tailoring exercise programs to
meet all individual needs is our goal at PhysioFit.
What is Pilates?
Pilates is an exercise program developed in the early 1920’s by Joseph Pilates,
who brought it from Germany to the United States in 1923. He was a boxer and
performer who worked as an orderly in intern camps during WWI. While there,
he developed strengthening exercises and equipment to develop core stability.
His exercise program was embraced in the US by dancers to help them gain
strength and flexibility in their extremities, while maintaining core stability.
Pilates has been receiving increased attention over the past few years. Most
physical therapists have used many of these techniques with patients as part of
their treatment regimen for years.
Pilates techniques affect the entire body. Instead of isolating muscle groups, the
entire body is involved, integrating the upper and lower extremities (including
alignment principles) with the core musculature. Mental imaging, focus and
breathing patterns are used to reduce stress and accessory movement, while
emphasizing static or dynamic core stabilization. The principle of strengthening
while lengthening muscles is critical in providing long term benefit of an exercise
regimen. Pilates principles help to improve strength, flexibility, balance,
coordination and posture.
How do Pilates exercises impact the body?
The body tends to take the path of least resistance – it uses muscles that are
already strong, which leads to overuse. Pilates helps people:
- Regain muscle balance
- Inhibit overactive muscles
- Strengthen weaker muscles
- Improve flexibility
- Stabilize the spine
- Understand how to move and how to “listen” to their bodies
- Learn how to prevent future flare-ups and re-injuries
How does the therapist work with the patient?
Research has found that for long term effectiveness, the patient needs to have a
role in and responsibility for their own recovery. Manual therapy helps to control
pain and to regain flexibility and mobility in soft tissue and joints. Passive
treatment by a therapist alone often results in temporary improvement, at best.
The body will often revert back to dysfunctions that led to symptoms in the first
place. Ultimately, exercise is what helps to maintain better function and
prevention of return of symptoms by integrating muscle balance and flexibility
principles.
When a physical therapist involves the patient in training how to activate his or
her weaker muscles using core stabilization and Pilates techniques, the therapist
helps the patient become more active in daily, work and recreational activities.
The therapist and patient work together at the clinic while the patient continues at
home, creating a total program for improving function, decreasing symptoms
and promoting long-term health. Pilates-based equipment helps to assist and to
challenge individuals as appropriate for their goals and stage of rehabilitation.
A physical therapist with the appropriate background and training to promote
good quality of movement is critical in providing an effective exercise regimen. A
movement specialist, like a physical therapist, can work with patients to develop
specific exercise programs that meet their unique needs, addressing both
maintenance and progression needs. One of the biggest challenges in promoting
an effective exercise regimen is to cue patients to use the correct form,
modification, assistance or resistance with a given exercise that is individually
appropriate. If a patient does not have adequate instruction on how to perform
an exercise correctly, he/she may easily become flared-up. The same exercise
that can potentially help an individual can aggravate symptoms if there is no
focus on promoting good quality of movement. Programs can address needs
ranging from very basic levels to advanced programs for elite athletes with sport-
specific choreography.
Although patients may present with a specific area of discomfort, pain is most
often associated with stiffness in one area and excessive movement in another
area. The area with excessive movement is usually where pain is present. The
therapist can identify the area that is stiff, work with the patient to improve
flexibility and, thereby, reduce the shearing forces of excessive movement that
are causing pain and inflammation. It is important for the patient to be
empowered to recognize and build an awareness of what is causing his or her
symptoms in order to help avoid aggravating symptoms. The patients learn to
focus on stretching where it is most needed to improve flexibility. In addition,
patients must learn to develop the ability to concentrate on activating specific
muscle groups to promote muscle balance in their bodies.
What do we offer to maintain what you have learned in the therapy sessions?
An effective Pilates exercise routine emphasizes maintenance of correct form
and promotes quality of movement. At PhysioFit, we feel that it is important to be
able to offer a program of Pilates mat and equipment classes to address fitness
as well as maintenance options for people who want or need more guidance than
they have with an independent program. Classes are small and are taught by a
licensed physical therapist that pays close attention to each individual’s needs
and monitors correct form for everyone. The equipment we have that was
designed using Pilates principles can supplement mat-based exercises and
provide some variety in the exercise routine. We also offer an individual
maintenance or Pilates-based exercise program. Tailoring exercise programs to
meet all individual needs is our goal at PhysioFit.
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