Clinical Pilates

Pilates is a low-impact exercise method that combines strength training, flexibility, muscle control, and body awareness. Movements are slow, controlled and precise to tap into neuromuscular training strategies. Vastly adaptable, easily modified and low risk due to the low impact nature, it forms the perfect foundation for injury prevention and rehab.

Traditional vs Clinical Pilates: what’s the difference?

The simple difference comes down to who is teaching the session and what is the purpose behind the exercise program. 

General Pilates: 

General pilates is taught by fitness professionals; whether group classes or individual sessions normally the exercises are pre-structured and suitable for anyone to join. The aim is for general wellness. 

Instructores are not qualified to help a person recover from injury through their exercise prescription, and they aren’t there to identify when movement faults or pain are due to underlying biomechanical irregularities. They also are not trained to identify if certain movements could make a condition feel worse, or how to modify the exercise should this happen. 

Clinical Pilates: 

Clinical pilates is taught by qualified healthcare practitioners, such as physiotherapists, who are trained specialists in injury management and prevention. Their knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics and neuromuscular rehabilitation enables them to offer prescriptive programs 

Participants will have undergone thorough assessment to identify the root cause of injury, pain or any biomechanical dysfunction. As rehabilitation specialists they are able to build individualised programs which take into account current or past musculoskeletal conditions. 

Sessions are conducted with constant supervision to ensure optimal technique and provide modifications where necessary. 

Who can do Clinical Pilates? 

Pilates is suitable for everyone, it can be adapted for those in acute pain, for people with limited movement, for pre and post-natal exercise and for immediate safe exercise after surgery.  

It is also appropriate for all ages and all abilities – the exercises are tailored to the individual so the program can be made as challenging or as gentle as needed to achieve the best outcomes. 

What conditions benefit from Pilates? 

All of them! Research shows Pilates is effective at training muscle control and building strength – both of which are vital in the rehabilitation of all musculoskeletal disorders. Examples of conditions we commonly use PIlates to treat include: 

• Low back and neck pain, including disc injuries and chronic pain 
• Headaches
• Joint disorders such as osteoarthritis
• Tendinous conditions such as ITB syndrome and Achilles tendinopathy 
• Post-surgical patients including surgeries such as ACL/PCL repair, rotator cuff repairs, spinal fusions or discectomies and abdominal surgeries 
• Chronic pain conditions including fibromyalgia or hypermobility syndrome  
• Pre and post-natal or pelvic floor disorders
• General conditioning and fitness 
• Injury prevention for athletes 

If you are still unsure if Clinical Pilates is right for you, simply reach out to our team and they will be more than happy to help.