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Physiotherapy Exercise Rehab With Clinical Pilates, Versus Private Pilates

Pilates is a whole body exercise approach that helps you strengthen and condition your body. It has many benefits and can be tailored to your specific needs and goals. Almost anyone can start a pilates-based program. Many of the pilates movements and exercises include the use of springs and equipment to provide resistance throughout your movements and exercises

Benefits Of Pilates

Functional group exercise

Your muscles are strengthened as part of a functional group rather than on their own. Most muscles in your body have a partner, such as your bicep and tricep. Pilates movements often work both muscles in a single exercise. For example, when you do a lunge on the reformer, both your guads and glutes are used.

An entire chain of muscles are activated. From the front and back part of your leg to your spinal stabilizing muscles involved in keeping your posture upright. Your deep abdominals and diaphragm are actively working as you make your way through each movement.

There can be more than 15 different muscle groups working at the same time. This is one reason why patients often report feeling like they have worked out their whole body after pilates compared to traditional gym exercises.

Fasical stretch therapy

Pilates can be similar to fascial stretch therapy. Fascia refers to the connective tissue that connects your different muscles, ligaments, bones, joints and other parts of your body. It maintains connections and interactions between the different areas of your body.

The main lines found in your body include your:

  • Deep front
  • Functional
  • Lateral
  • Spiral and
  • Superficial lines

Pilates exercises stretch and strengthen these connecting lines. This can improve your flexibility, agility, functional strength and ease of movement.

A mental workout

Pilates exercises are complex, multi-layered movements that also stimulate your nervous system. With pilates, your body learns how to better connect new groups of neurons for more efficient movement. Your brain is exercised and strengthened at the same time. This is one reason why patients often report feeling both mentally and physically drained afterwards.

Pilates movements highlight the connections between your brain and your body. Each movement involves many parts of your body including your brain, muscles, joints, fascia, ligaments and various lines. These coordinated movements lead to better muscle tone, coordination and flexibility

clinical pilates benefits

Pilates Compared To Traditional Exercise

In addition to the brain-body connection, one of the principles of pilates is the emphasis on posture. All movements in pilates are ideally done while keeping proper posture. The resistance and number of repetitions are determined by how well you can keep ideal posture throughout the exercise.

Your program is modified to match your ability while working on your posture. For example, one day you may be able to do 12 repetitions of roll down with ideal posture. The next day, you may only able to do 10 repetitions.

Figuring out how many reps to do

The number of repetitions you do depends on how well you can maintain proper posture each time. Your exercise limits are related to your ability to do the exercise properly. This helps protect your body from doing more than you can safely handle. The result is fewer injuries. This also reduces the stress put on your nervous system and prevents the compensation that happens from trying to squeeze out the last few repetitions

Importance Of Form And Posture

As technology becomes more available, the worse our posture gets. A common issue is forward head posture. The frequent use of our phones while waiting at a bus stop or standing in line waiting for our coffee. Everywhere you look someone likely has forward head posture.

Forward head posture can lead to changes in the biomechanics of your neck. This can cause a chain reaction that affects your spine and the rest of your body.

Your physiotherapists and chiropractors know how this biomechanical change has the potential to change your gait, balance and coordination. This can lead to painful and inefficient movement patterns. Having a better understanding of your body’s abilities will help prevent injuries from happening

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Effects Of Poor Posture

Poor posture affects more than just your muscles and bones. It can also affect your mental health and neurological development. Here are some possible effects of improper posture:

  • Brain fog
  • Depression
  • Early degenerative changes in your spine
  • Fatigue
  • Higher risk of falls
  • Less confidence
  • More stress
  • Pain
  • Poor breathing patterns
  • Postural instability
  • Reduced coordination

With better posture, some of the benefits you may notice include:

  • Become more resilient to stress
  • Better balance
  • Breathe better
  • Clearer focus
  • Feel happier
  • Have a higher level of body confidence
  • Less pain
  • Move better with improved coordination
  • Reduced risk of falling
  • Think more positively

Physiotherapy Exercise Rehab With Clinical Pilates, Versus Private Pilates

Physiotherapy exercise rehab with clinical pilates

As part of your physio exercise rehab program, clinical pilates is a therapeutic healthcare appointment with your healthcare provider. This means that your visits are recorded into your medical charts. To start physiotherapy exercise rehab with clinical pilates, you are first assessed by your physiotherapist to see if this is the right option for you.

Your program includes clinical pilates exercises that are appropriate for you, all done under the supervision of your physiotherapist. You are reassessed at regular intervals by your physiotherapist, usually every 1-6 weeks.

Private pilates

Private pilates sessions are not considered therapeutic visits. It is not necessary to record these sessions into your medical charts.

You do not need to be assessed with your physiotherapist before starting. Private pilates sessions also do not need your physiotherapist’s supervision. Your certified pilates instructors will complete an assessment and determined the best route to help you reach your goal.

Private pilates sessions are not covered under extended health plans.

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Choosing The Right Program

This will depend on your personal needs. Usually, if you have any physical symptoms or injuries, it may be better to start a physiotherapy exercise rehab with clinical pilates program. Your physio can assess your condition and help you deal with any issues or injuries.

As you work through your program, you will learn new and better movement patterns and retrain your brain to adopt these new patterns. Once you have reached a level of painfree movement and function, private pilates may be an option to consider.

Other reasons you may want to consider private pilates include:

  • You do not have any pain, symptoms or injuries
  • Your goals are more fitness oriented

Both physiotherapy exercise rehab with clinical pilates and private pilates have many benefits. If you need help deciding which option is better for you, schedule an appointment with your physiotherapist. They can help guide you in your decision

Find Out Which Option Is Best For You

Not sure which route to take? Your physiotherapists answer your questions and help you decide which option is the best one for you

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FAQ

Q: What does a pilates workout do?

A: Pilates is a gentle, effective exercise system that helps you improve your posture, build strength and increase your flexibility. With pilates exercise, other added benefits can include better coordination and balance

Q: Which is better, pilates or yoga?

A: Both pilates and yoga have many health benefits. With pilates, the use of equipment can provide additional support as you work through the movements and to help you if you are recovering from an injury

Q: Can I do pilates at home?

A: There a number of simple pilates exercise you can do at home. For more advanced exercises and movements, pilates equipment such as a Cadillac, Reformer or Pilates Chair commonly found in studios and rehab clinics can be used