Using Pilates for Rehabilitation From Injury
Many chiropractors, orthopedists, and physiotherapists are discovering the benefits associated with using Pilate’s for their patients who suffer from sports injuries, or any soft tissue injury such as neck or back pain, sciatica, shoulder tendonitis, hip bursitis, ankle pain, or knee or hip replacement recovery. They also have discovered that Pilate’s can be very beneficial for those patients who suffer from disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, fibromyalgia, or scoliosis. It is also helpful when individuals suffer from repetitive stress injuries or from muscle strains.
Pilate’s exercises have been shown over time to be safe for those who have been injured. In fact, Pilate’s was developed to help soldiers recovering from battle injuries by Joseph Pilates. Modern doctors have found that the Pilate’s exercises allow patients to focus on becoming more flexible and improving their strength so that they can return to normal function again. Pilate’s is designed to improve strength and flexibility in the “total body”, so it is not only good for rehabilitation but also for getting your entire body into shape and healthy fitness.
Experts in the physical fitness field have found that not only does Pilate’s provide a medium for improving body strength and flexibility but also to improve postural symmetry and total body conditioning.
Many fitness clubs and sports clubs require members to participate in Pilate’s because they recognize the value for athletic preparedness as well as injury recovery.
Pilate’s also provides injury prevention insurance as when the body is at optimum strength and flexibility the risks for injury are decreased. This is due to the focus on core stabilization, balance and flexibility. There are also neuromuscular components to the Pilate’s programs that benefit the athlete who is looking to prevent injury in an upcoming season.
Medical professionals have used Pilate’s for relieving chronic back, hip, and knee, neck and shoulder pain and for postural and biomechanical weaknesses. It has been used for sports conditioning and as stated above to help prevent injuries.
Reproductive professionals have also discovered the benefits of Pilates for their pregnant patients as well as for post-natal exercise to bring the stressed female body back to fitness following the workout involved in growing a baby and giving birth to the child.
Pilate’s also benefits those who are rehabilitating in other ways also including an improved postural stance, a no-impact way to improve joint function, to improve functional fitness as it relates to everyday tasks, and to improve the patient’s ability to coordinate movements, improve circulation, and increase balance. Everybody who practices Pilate’s enjoys a better sense of “body awareness” and body positioning.
Pilate’s programs when taken in the classroom can be focused on individual need instead of a “cookie cutter” approach like so many other fitness programs are like. Pilate’s compliments other traditional physical therapy programs beautifully.
