What is Pilates Therapy?

Pilates therapy provides a way of re-educating the body’s movement which is essential to musculoskeletal rehabilitation after injury or surgery.

What does that actually mean and why is it important? When the body is injured - for example knee pain - the rest of the body changes its movement to keep the injured knee safe and as pain-free as possible. A limp may develop to keep the pressure off the knee - this limp can lead to shoulder, hip, low back or ankle pain depending on the severity of it. It’s not just a knee injury, but the whole body modifying its movement, that needs to be corrected.

Pilates therapy can help re-train your muscles to move correctly - including the muscles around the knee that can help the injury itself (depending on the cause of injury). This helps balance the body and get your movement back to normal.

Principles: Pilates Therapy is based on the principle that the body and mind are interconnected, and changes in movement, breathing patterns, balance and strength can bring about changes in your whole body and awareness of your movement.

Methods: Sessions start with an assessment of the injury and a history of your health adn lifestyle. After the assessment, an agreement is made about the goals which the client is aiming for. Each 1:1 session involves specifically chosen exercises aimed to move closer to recovery. Homework is sent each week to do at home.

Goals: The goals of movement therapy depend on the issue that's being worked on and the Therapist's assessment of the problem.

Applications: Pilates Therapy can be helpful for many issues. Working slowly and specifically on injuries and movement patterns can correct issues with the outcome of more strength, balance, flexibility, breathing patterns and body awareness.

Professional Practice: Pilates Therapists are trained, certified Pilates instructors with extra training in assessment, injuries and biomechanics.

Overall, Pilates Therapy is an holistic approach that recognises the importance of body awareness in musculoskeletal movement patterns and utilises movement as a therapeutic intervention to improve overall well-being.