Rapid Rehab LA Pilates Based Physical Therapy Brentwood California

The Pilates Cadillac can and should be so appropriately named. While it doesn’t have a detailed paint job or a radio installed it has pretty much everything else. The “rack” can work out every single muscle group in your body with precision. Upon first glance the Cadillac has elements of intimidation, but it has been called “the bridge between exercise and physical therapy”, and that’s what it is. Like the Pilates Chair and Reformer it has evolved since its early inception as a spring-rigged hospital bed for Joseph Pilates’ bed-ridden patients. Even though some renovations have been made to the model it still holds true to Joe’s creed of exercise innovation making it even that much more effective.

Standing at 6 feet tall, the Cadillac has a padded tabletop and four posts. From these posts you will find straps, springs, levers, and a variety of bars. Traditional models have a push-through bar, while you can find more elaborate models that include a roll-down bar, trapeze, ankle cuffs, and fuzzy-padded hanging loops. With so many options for isolation it is a great tool for compartmentalizing injuries and for correcting poor patterns of movement and posture that can develop over time.

There are more than 80 exercises that can be performed on the Cadillac. Aside from the gentle algorithm of the more traditional spring-loaded resistance functions the Cadillac can provide physical challenges up to that of an acrobatic nature.

A more economical approach to Pilates can be found in the lightweight Pilates Barrel. This is a great addition to any mat workout as well as any “circuit” based Pilates session. It is commonly used to “open up” the chest, hips, thighs, and neck. For those that carry tension or stress easily, this arch’s rehabilitative qualities can assist in an even deeper stretch than through mat stretching alone.

Pilates Resistance Bands are also an additional facet of any Pilates workout. Made of a thin latex material these bands promote sculpting of the muscles as well as mind-body balance, and increased flexibility. The bands can be used by themselves or in a circuit. They offer a subtle and gentle resistance, which keeps in line with natural body movements. These are used to target the upper as well as the lower body.

Depending upon how much experience you have with exercise machines it may take a little while to become accustomed to the system of each Pilates machine. You can choose to start your introduction to these machines and accessories in a personal session or with a group. Since form is the most crucial component in Pilates, supervision is essential for beginners. As you become more skilled in the art of Pilates exploration can begin into the endless possibilities each machine offers.  www.rapidrehabla.com

Pilates is as versatile as the equipment it has in its repertoire. Pilates can be done on a mat, which in and of itself offers a wide variety of exercises. In addition to the mat, Pilates has additional pieces of equipment that add an almost inexhaustible catalog of exercises to the mat format.

There are five basic pieces of equipment, The Pilates Reformer, the Pilates Chair, the Pilates Cadillac, the Pilates Barrel, and the Pilates Resistance Bands.

The Pilates Reformer is perhaps the most well known. Devised of pulleys, straps and an intricate spring system The Reformer makes “gliding” possible. The legs, arms, wrists and hands are used to push and pull the body across the rails of the machine. The springs are adjustable, which determines how much resistance you are working against.

Some may find The Reformer’s exercises, which tally up to a hundred, easy at first. But more frequent use of the machine allows for a rapid increase in difficulty. No matter how much resistance is applied to the machine, which you add by color-coded springs, the body is held in captive tension. Through slow and controlled movements the primary and secondary muscles are subtly conditioned throughout the entire body.

Aside from The Reformer being a staple in classes, it is also known for its rehabilitation qualities. Pilates based rehab uses The Reformer as one of the central pieces of equipment. It is recognized by all types of professions as an alternative and effective way to nurture and heal injuries. Chiropractors, physical therapists, professional level coaches, personal trainers, and osteopathic practioners recommend and comment on The Reformers abilities.

Since a quality Reformer has a price tag that can range from $2000-4000 dollars, Pilates studios, health clubs, spas, personal gyms, and corporate gyms have made “group reformer” and “private” classes available.

The Pilates Chair offers 75 different exercises that are unique to its anything but chair-like existence. Hardly considered a seated workout, the Pilates Chair (The Wunda, Stability Chair, low chair) has a newly streamlined appearance making it seem less intimidating and more versatile. Looking like something that would be used at a contemporary restaurant, its box-like shape and padded seat has one side that can be pushed down against the resistance-loaded spring system inside.

Most Pilates Chairs are made of wood like the original model by Joseph Pilates. The original design only provided one modification for the resistance pedal. However, newer models provide two separate pedals for independent isolation exercises, peripheral extremities, and limb rotations. This piece of equipment engages the upper middle and lower back, buttocks, shoulders, transverse abdominals, lower and upper pelvis regions, and improves neuromuscular integration.

While the bulk of the work is done in a seated position, there are additional static exercises that can be done standing, or lying down- such as push-ups and lunges. Stability and flexibility is the focus of this piece of equipment, making the list of potential exercises wide and vast. The chair is also known for its propensity to “rebalance” injured muscles, and has proven to be effective against a series of strains and muscular imbalances. The price of this chair can range from $700-1500, depending on the caliber and efficiency of the model.  www.rapidrehabla.com