Posts Tagged ‘pilates physical therapy’

Back Pain Treatment

Tuesday, June 24th, 2008

Strengthening the back muscles and increasing the back’s flexibility is the best way to begin a rehabilitation program for a back injury. Pilates’ unique approach to muscle strengthening is perfect for those with injuries because its lengthening moves are easy on the body yet they require the utmost in muscle integration. Once the back can be reintroduced as a balanced component of the body’s musculoskeletal system, injuries are less likely to occur and will be much less painful if they do.

Pilate’s rehabilitation exercises focus on lumbar stabilization, which is achieved through a series of movements that incorporate The Core. The Core muscles include: Transverse Abdominis, The Pelvic Floor Muscles, and the Multifidus-, which is the deep muscles of the back. Some refer to the strengthening of The Core as tightening your body’s corset. This acts as a visual guide for those who don’t understand the concept of The Core. Once the corset around the spine is tightened it creates a safety cage for the muscles to move with ease and as a result remain protected from injury.

Pilates elongates the muscles in the back and engages them proactively with every pose. In other forms of strength training such as weight-bearing exercises, or weight machines, isolation of the muscles is encouraged. This however, increases the possibility of imbalance.

The goal of Pilates it to create a whole body approach to exercise, which can correct imbalances, realign bad postural habits, and strengthen the muscles surrounding the spine. Range of motion is also increased through Pilates, which allows for further flexibility in the body. Flexibility is key in keeping the joints limber and lubricated.

Postural education is one of the more unique factors implemented in Pilates based rehab programs. Pilates based rehabilitation instructors take the time to explain why certain movements change injury potential and work with you to master them. Pilates is not only a rehabilitation program, it is a great way for those with injuries to reestablish the quality of life they knew, pre-injury.

Instead of just trying to treat an abnormality in the body, Pilates physically recreates patterns of movement. If the back injury was a product of poor posture or spinal misalignment, or improper form in activity, Pilates aims to correct that.

Re-injuring oneself is of great concern in the rehabilitation world. Active recovery is one way to avoid that.  When you are actively using and strengthening the muscles that are involved in the injury, they have less capacity to be strained. The more a muscle goes un-used or un-trained, the higher the chances that their dormancy will lead to an injury again.

Whether a patient takes a Pilates Mat class, or a machine-based class both will challenge the back muscles. Machine Pilates based rehab pushes against spring-loaded resistance for an even glide of exercise. This enables people of all ages with back injuries to begin where they can, dependent upon physical ability. Pilates based rehabilitation is not only rehabilitation; it is a way to return to a whole life.

Pilates Based Rehabilitation Part 2

Tuesday, June 17th, 2008

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

Pilates Based Rehabilitation Part 1

Monday, June 16th, 2008

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

Who Can Do Pilates

Friday, June 13th, 2008

Anyone who wishes to create a long and lean physique, with minimal weigh-bearing work, can succeed at Pilates. While some workouts require a certain level of fitness, or exercise knowledge Pilates has a tiered system in which everyone can benefit from.

Rarely in this day and age can you say that age doesn’t matter- however, with Pilates age really doesn’t matter. A new student should feel confident to take part in their own Pilates exercise regime no matter what their age or expertise. No gender limitations or experience qualifications exist within its program. Non-existing barriers should assuage hesitation and instill a confidence in a student’s readiness to begin Pilates.

Conscious control of the body and the ability to center your self is the only requirement for which clients need to commit themselves. If establishing goals for reaching heightened body awareness, while incorporating fluidity of motion into everyday life, is of interest to you then no other know-how is needed.

The age range for Pilates clients is vast, as it is normal to see a teenager working next to a 70-year old in any given group class environment. This acts as a testament itself to the accessibility of any Pilates program.

Wherever a student may fall in the spectrum of proficiency, classes are available for their level. Beginner, intermediate and advanced classes make it easy to establish starting points and to chart progress. It is recommended that “first-timers” schedule a private session with a trained professional before beginning any class, especially if you feel you may need more personalized attention.

As long as a new student is free of injury, they can begin with or without equipment. However, “Mat-Pilates” is considered one of the best classes for beginners. Mat based workouts allow you to become familiar with basic body positioning, breathing patterns and alignment. All of which are the integral makings of any Pilates program, beginning classes and beyond.

In addition to mat, group machine classes are available which incorporate the Pilates Reformer, the Chair and the Barrel, as well as Resistance bands, long boxes, and exercise balls. Once new levels of experience are achieved, the Pilates Cadillac can be introduced. The Cadillac is considered by some to be the pinnacle of Pilates progress, because its versatility provides a platform for an extremely challenging workout in the same breath as a more basic one. This sliding scale of Pilates apparatus coupled with each different class level, allows for flux in each client’s skill development and pace.

If you do suffer from injury there are great benefits to gain from Pilates! All of the equipment and accessories that are used find their roots firmly planted in rehabilitation techniques. Because of this, no matter how many aspects of Pilates you incorporate into your workout, you will gently and safely progress into a healthier and more-fit version of yourself. Those who suffer from back pain, ACL complications, ankle issues, sports injuries, ruptured, degenerative, herniated, or bulging disks will find that Pilates’ low-impact approach to exercise is the most effective way to heal and restore with ease and comfort. www.rapidrehabla.com