Gyrotonic® Method Injury Rehabilitation In Burnaby

Natural Joint Motion

Being able to move freely and without pain is crucial in your every day life. Once you start having pain in a particular area of your body, your ability to go about your day can get much more difficult. One of the goals of physiotherapy is to restore normal mobility and function. As part of your physio exercise rehab program, Gyrotonic exercise can be an effective way to help you reach these goals.

Full range of motion

One of the biggest differences with clinical pilates is that Gyrotonic exercise uses and puts more focus on circular motions. These types of movements tend to be more natural type motions for your joints. This enhances the movement and allows your joints to flow through their full range of motion. An added benefit is that these moves can be done without the side effect of wear and tear on your joints from repetitive and impact exercises.

Gyrotonic exercise is a mainstream rehabilitation movement approach found in many European countries. One area where Gyrotonic exercise has been found to be effective is in the post-surgical rehabilitation of patients who underwent either hip or knee replacements

Injury Prevention and Rehab

As part of your physiotherapy exercise rehab program, Gyrotonic exercise is especially beneficial for injury prevention and rehabilitation of athletes such as:

• Acrobats
• Dancers
• Figure skaters
• Gymnasts
• Performing artists
• Swimmers

The movement exercises challenge your body to extend, reach and stretch to its new dimensions safely and effectively. It is equally useful for any patient whose injury has affected their mobility and for athletic injury and prevention.

Many athletes such as gymnasts and dancers have found the approach very helpful in allowing them to recover from their aches and injuries. This is due in part to the Gyrotonic exercise movements which are sometimes similar to those found in dancing and gymnastics.

With better coordination of your muscle activity, stronger muscles and improved mobility you will be better positioned to avoid injury.

Other Movement Disorders

The system can be modified to accommodate most movement restrictions. In addition to orthopedic and sport applications, it has been used for rehabilitation of patients with:

• Cerebral palsy
• MS
• Neurological movement disorders
• Parkinson’s
• Post stroke
• Other movement problems

With assisted movement in many different directions, Gyrotonic exercise is well suited to help those with movement disorders. Resistsance can be adjusted to challenge you just enough to produce results, but not too much so that you get discouraged or even worsen your injury. Gyrotonic exercise is fluid and gentle, without any jarring or sudden movements

Exercise Rehab

Gyrotonic exercise is often incorporated into your exercise rehab program which is supervised by your
physiotherapist. Your physiotherapy exercise rehab sessions are typically done with your physiotherapy assistant and usually last up to 1 hour each session. Your rehab program can include other types of exercises including:

• Clinical pilates
• Core strengthening
• Use of small hand weights, balance boards, resistance bands, balance balls
• Other exercises

Exercise rehab versus regular exercise

One of the main differences between exercise rehab and just exercising on your own is the specialized focus of your sessions. As healthcare practitioners, your physiotherapist will customize your exercises to complement your healing process and reduce pain as you recover from injury. They can ensure that you are completing the exercise with proper form and done safely.

With continued exercise rehab, you can next work on improving your ability to coordinate your body movements and build strength. By doing so can greatly reduce your likelihood of injuries happening in the future

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Gyrotonic exercise better than pilates?

A: Although Gyrotoni exercise and pilates are different, they are both systems that have been shown to help many different types of injuries and patients. Similar to how running and swimming are different but both can still be great forms of exercise.

Your physiotherapy exercise rehab program may include many different Gyrotonic exercises and clinical pilates movements. As an extension of your physiotherapy services, including exercise rehab can have many benefits. Some of these include building your muscle strength to support your joints and prevent injury, improving your coordination and having better balance.

Q: Does Gyrotonic exercise help me build muscle?

A: Gyrotonic exercise will not give you “beach” muscles like working out at a traditional gym with weights. Instead, Gyrotonic exercise has many other benefits for you which can include helping you stretch out tight muscles and strengthen your weaker muscles.

As part of your exercise rehab, Gyrotonic exercise can help improve your posture and increase your overall mobility and flexibility. Other areas of your health that may benefit from Gyrotonic exercise include positive aerobic and cardiovascular changes

Q: Can I do Gyrotonic exercise at home?

A: Most Gyrotonic exercises are done using equipment such as a pulley tower and weights. There are many clinical pilates exercises that can be both at the clinic and at home.

You can often use simple items commonly found throughout your home, such as a water bottle or a jug of milk to use during your exercises. Other smaller and versatile exercise equipment that some patients purchase for home use include small hand weights, resistance bands, balance boards and exercise balls

Q: Does Gyrotonic exercise burn calories?

A: As Gyrotonic exercise is also movement based, it can certainly help you burn calories as well. However, the main focus of Gyrotonic exercise is not on burning calories. It is instead focused on improving the coordination of your muscle activity as well as better balance and mobility