Rapid Rehab LA Pilates Based Physical Therapy Brentwood California

An interview with Lindy Royer, a professional physical therapist for the last twenty years, sheds a little light on Pilates for fitness versus Pilates for rehabilitation. She says,

“I think the big difference between Pilates for rehabilitation and Pilates for fitness is that the former focuses on getting an individual to a desired state of functional movement, whereas the latter focuses on general athletic or health goals.”

Pilates is a perfect match for those seeking rehabilitation because Pilates is very versatile. It can increase the strength and endurance of a professional football player, yet it can also bring an individual back to the world of functional living after knee surgery or a knee/hip replacement.

The Reformer, which is one of the most common pieces of equipment used in Pilates rehabilitation, can be adjusted to fit the specific needs of any rehab client. The Reformer is an active tool that physical therapists can use for clinical reasoning. They can apply a certain series of movements to a patient, and then adjust the “dose” accordingly upon recovery rate and injury improvement.

Not only does The Reformer improve and heal injuries, it acts as the ramp for those seeking whole body wellness in the long run. This is what makes The Reformer heads and shoulders above other rehabilitation equipment.

Because The Reformer has a potent power to increase overall fitness, this is happening simultaneously as the injury is gently and effectively being healed. The nature of the Reformer movements tone and incorporate all of the muscles of the body at the same time. The goal of all physical therapy is not only to heal the individual but also to reintroduce them to a life of activity much like, if not the same as their former lifestyle.

Since the focus of Pilates can be two-fold, fitness and rehabilitation, these will then become the body’s focal point and this balance of meeting becomes an inexorable force of restoration and vigor.

While moving the body parts simultaneously is a trademark movement in Pilates for fitness, it isn’t as commonly used in Pilates for rehabilitation in the beginning. In Pilates for rehabilitation the focus is on separate compartments of movement.

The body is then broken down into each area of movement that needs attention. As the body becomes more accustomed to that movement, then layers of motion are added to increase mobility within the injured joint and within the surrounding muscles.

Touching on the mind-body connection mentioned before, this is where the deep breathing patterns in Pilates act as the sewing string that binds the slow and controlled movement with the intention of focus. Pilates for rehabilitation and for fitness have many common denominators, but as the factors are separated out they can become two separate forms of Pilates training.

In time they usually can blend into one another creating an entire basis for health and injury, which becomes a cycle of rehabilitation and fitness improvement, a cycle that is not found in any other form of exercise

Pilates has a two-fold purpose. Its ability to meet a client right at the crux of their needs makes it a pliable, approachable, and effectual practice. However the pendulum of Pilates has a large range of swing, and its overarching benefits cover a huge plot of demographic terrain.

Celebrities and athletes can be found in one plain of the ever increasing Pilates interest, whereas a huge population of the injured, elderly, and even those who suffer from neuromuscular diseases such as Parkinson’s disease make up the other.

The methods of Pilates, whether it is applied to fitness or rehabilitation carry the same principles. Core stabilization, increased muscle performance, posture realignment, flexibility, and deep stretching and breathing.

These principles are not only unique to Pilates but are also found in other forms of physical rehabilitation and therapy. The question then begs to ask, what is the difference between Pilates for those seeking fitness and Pilates for those seeking rehabilitation?

Since they both integrate the same movements, and both implement the necessary control over those movements through the same series of exercises, how can it benefit such opposite audiences?

The answer can be found in an exploration of this verses that. Pilates for the fitness community uses the same equipment and standardized movements as those seeking rehabilitation, but the focus of the exercise is on increasing the length and strength of the muscles within the body to create that long, taut, lean body that Pilates is known to produce.

Increasing the worth of everyday movement is of extreme importance. Pilates for fitness encourages its students to become more aware of their everyday posture, gait, sitting and standing positions, and to use the findings as personal inventory to forge a barometer for improvement within the body.

The body desires to operate on the smooth rails of where our joints and bones are supposed to meet and collaborate. However, years of bad postural and health habits in concordance with improper purchases of movement can cause weight gain, depression, lethargy, and muscle imbalances.

This can make the relationship between bone and joint dysfunctional. When the body isn’t running the way it should it makes exercise difficult, and in some cases people abandon the idea that they can even take part. Pilates is gentle on the body and reintroduces common movement with light resistance.

It not only is a great exercise for beginners but it has such a wide range of challenge and difficulty, that it can take years to master some of the Pilates apparatus, and in most cases a lifetime.

Athletic improvement and general health progression is the main focus of Pilates for fitness. Reintroducing a state of ability and upward improvement changes the appearance of the body and marries the body to the mind making health and fitness not just a goal to achieve but a state of mind.

Focus is by and large the line in the sand that separates Pilates for fitness from Pilates for rehabilitation. This is the key we will use to unlock the entire reasoning behind Joseph Pilates staging of the Pilates mind-body connection.

The power of the mind to improve or heal the body comes from the same place of intention, whether that intention is just to look better or to heal serious injury.

Pilates-Based Physical Therapy finds its methodology to be in the same family of framework as physical therapy, but different psychological approaches sets them apart. Pilates based physical therapy sees whole-body wellness as the cure to injury as well as the key to functional living, for a better quality of life long after the initial stages of recovery. When the road to healing is paved with the Pilates based physical therapy practices, that path will lead to a life where moving better means feeling better.

Treating a symptom and not the problem will only result in a temporary fix. When maladaptive movements are corrected and analyzed through the lens of Pilates, it creates a whole new spectrum of possibility and adds a depth of scope into everyday living.

The focus of Pilates-based rehab to not only improve the quality of life but also re-educated the body to move in a more energy efficient manner. Self-awareness is heightened by the breathing patterns Pilates integrates into its slow and controlled movements. Much like physical therapy it does incorporate patience and diligence into its objective.

Another unique difference found in Pilates-based physical therapy is that you are generally assured the same technician each time you schedule and appointment. In physical therapy there is no chance of obtaining a “swinging door” practitioner. A relationship between the Pilates-based rehabilitation instructor and its client is of great importance, so that relationship is developed over time with the same instructor. A partnership generates a level of trust, and can be motivation for faster recovery.

When a client begins to involve themselves in new ways of moving, and new ways of walking, sitting and standing, provided by Pilates-based rehab, an awakening will be discovered. Sometimes just the way that we carry ourselves can lead to injury and imbalance, and we are completely unaware of it. Pilates will teach you how to listen to your body and respond accordingly.

Pilates is done on machines that assist the body along in creating more efficient patterns of movement. Each machine is spring-loaded and can be adjusted to fit the comfort zone of each client. With the careful observation and assistance of highly qualified Pilates professional, proper muscle recruitment will be developed keeping your specific needs in mind. Pilates based-rehab blends traditional therapy modalities with innovative Pilates poses to create a much needed mind-body connection technique that begins to heal the body from the outside in.

Understanding that climate of healthcare concerns, where time and money can be tight, Pilates designs its program to be highly effective in a short amount of time. Sequencing stabilization within the body and within the mind of a person suffering from an injury is at the forefront of those who teach Pilates. There are many options out there for rehabilitation, but we encourage you to give Pilates-based physical therapy a try and compare “notes” with former rehabilitation methods.

We believe that you will find Pilates to be a gentle progression from injury to wellness, no matter who you are, how old you are, your physical condition, female or male, Pilates based rehab can change the way you view the process of recovery and live your life beyond it.

Pilates based-rehab is excellent for those that suffer from, but is not limited to post-surgery pain, muscle strain, sciatica, impingements, scoliosis, fibromyalgia, hip or knee replacement surgery, chronic neck and back pain, performance or sports injuries, shoulder girdle pain, hip and knee pain or strain, as well as foot and ankle issues. Pilates has also yielded excellent results for soft-tissue injuries.

In recent years Pilates based rehab has incorporated meditation, Yoga, medicine and Swiss balls into its circuit. Because of this, a wider range of creative movements has been added, making the benefits of Pilates ever more so reaching into meditative responsiveness and mind-body balance. The stretching and lengthening movements that one can achieve, through the series of postures developed in Pilates, rely on the use of pulleys, straps, and arm and leg cuffs. Long and short box accessories can be added to the regime for variety, but the exercises will still remain easy to do and easy on the body.

This layering of endless positions and options give any Pilates based rehabilitation instructor the ability to create a personalized system of appropriate movement for each client. An instructor’s attention to detail coupled with their extensive knowledge of biomechanics should make anyone who suffers from a nagging injury feel optimistic about their recovery.

Pilates is also versatile in “who” it can help. Elite athletes can be training next to the elderly, and body builders can be in the same class as ballerinas. The skill level of an accomplished Pilates participant can be developed from the ground up. When a student is beginning with an injury, the goal of Pilates-based rehab is that over time not only with the injury be corrected but that they will be inducted into the world of regular, healthy individuals.

While the scientific data to support Pilates based rehab is scarce, the claims of its participants cannot go ignored as evidence. There have been motor learning studies compiled in support of the case of Pilates and its achievements. Numerous testimonials and patient reports from doctors can act as proof in and of itself.

The healing proponents of Pilates in the lifestyle of athletes, for example, have been personally noted in their rehab reports. (rehabpub.com) Specifically there have been testimonies claiming that their body awareness has increased, that they feel as if their coordination is more acute, and because of increased flexibility they expect a rapid return to their chosen sport. Brent Anderson, (PT, OCS) has been quoted saying that, “The system is yoga-based with Germanic overtones of fitness; by today’s standards it matches with rehabilitation very well.” From a physical therapist standpoint, Pilates is given the credit where it is due.

The beneficiary results of Pilates are indisputable. It seems that Pilates based rehab is quickly becoming a very common addition to manual rehab. This is because the search has been on for discovering a system in which a rehabilitated individual will not only heal, but also excel in the aftermath of an injury.  rapidrehabla.com/services.html

Injuries within the body not only plague everyday life with constant pain, but injuries also prevent a person from feeling whole, or completely engaged in society. Our physical health is one of the most important things we have, and yet it is so easily taken for granted. Without proper care, our health can easily be compromised and when that can happen our world can be turned upside down. A healthy body is one of the biggest luxuries that a person can come to have, and it should be treated as such.

However when an injury does occur, it is imperative to begin a healing regime for the body as soon as one is physically able. The only bump in the road, when it comes to rehabilitation, is the seemingly wide chasm between the initial stages of an injury to the implementation of everyday activity. Some people’s injuries dictate the rest of their lives, and the frustration from failed attempts at recovery leave them defeated and disillusioned.

In addition to Physician recommended physical therapy, Pilates based therapy can act as that “off ramp” from recovery to daily living. It constructs a bridge to the world of activity that an injured individual was once a part of.  An explanation of Pilates and its methodology can begin to shed some light on a rather gray area of rehabilitation, “What happens after physical therapy?”

Pilates based rehab can be performed on the Pilates Reformer or on a mat. The Pilates Reformer alleviates tension in the joints and muscles, while lengthening and strengthening the areas in and around the injury. The body operates on the Reformer plane through a series of breathing, stretching and full body strengthening patterns. Repetitions are replaced with concentrated movement. The paces of these patterns are deliberate and controlled.

Pilates exercise progressions include not only injury prevention techniques, but also more importantly injury correction exercises. This allows for front-end and back-end rehabilitation during every stage of recovery. Pilate’s most unique component is that is works the entire body in phases of movement, instead of just one muscle or muscle group at a time.Since Pilates is a low-impact, partial weight bearing exercise it is perfect for toning injured areas.

Pilates assigns the “core” a series of stability challenges, which requires the muscles to be in constant static control. This focus creates joint mobility and flexibility within the framework of the body. When performed correctly and under the supervision of a highly trained individual, a “resetting” of irregular spine alignment, disjointed bones, muscular imbalance and strains can occur.

Injuries stem from muscular imbalances or spinal misalignment. In Pilates based rehab the injured area is considered just an “alarm” from the circuit center for which the injury itself may have assimilated. Correcting posture and re-learning every day movement it the solution Pilates based rehab provides. This is the epitome of “killing one bird with two stones”. Each posture is rooted in gentility and encourages the natural flow of the body’s mechanics. This enables an injured person to ease into recuperation without much pain or unneeded physical effort.  rapidrehabla.com/services.html