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 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