Clinical Pilates is an easy, safe and effective form of exercise that focuses on strengthening the core and spine. It helps with improvement to posture, flexibility, muscle tone and strength, balance, control and strengthening of the pelvic floor.
Pilates was developed to aid rehabilitation and help with functional movement. It is a form of exercise that uses your body weight or the resistance of equipment, combining movement and breath to improve overall body flexibility and strength.
In contrast, Clinical Pilates is used specifically for patients who have sustained an injury or have undergone surgery. It is different from Pilates because it takes into account specific injuries and physical needs to improve movement, strength and flexibility.
Pilates is gaining momentum as a favoured exercise regime because it is a full-body workout that is low impact and suits people of all ages including those recovering from an injury, those who suffer chronic joint pain and pregnant women.
Melbourne Sports Physiotherapy takes Pilates to a new level as they offer physiotherapy-adjusted sessions to cater to individuals, depending on your situation. With small group classes that are run by experienced physios and Clinical Pilates instructors, you will get exactly what your body needs.
What Makes Pilates so Beneficial?
Pilates movements are controlled and each one uses concentration on the abdomen and lower back muscles, along with precise, flowing moves and controlled breathing. There are many benefits of Clinical Pilates to consider that will leave you wanting to give it a try.
1. Promotes Body Awareness
Because you need to complete your Pilates movements with focus and concentration, while at the same time controlling your breathing, you become really aware of your body. You will become more sensitive to what your body is feeling as well as noticing the fluidity of movement.
The heightened awareness you experience during a Pilates session can become a habit that you continue outside the class and therefore you become more attuned to what your body needs to stay healthy.
2. Works on Major Muscles
While exercising on your own without a trainer, it can be quite easy to develop a particular part of the body while neglecting other areas. One example is exercises may be concentrated on building upper body strength and therefore not spending time working the lower muscle groups. This type of imbalanced fitness program can put strain on the neglected joints and muscles, making you more prone to injury.
Another example is that one side of the body may develop quicker than the other due to certain movements causing discomfort or pain. Having a proper health assessment and clinical exercise program run by qualified and experienced leaders ensures your body is in sync throughout fitness training or rehab and that your whole body improves.
3. Easy on the Joints
Pilates strengthens and improves the joints without putting pressure on them. Clinical Pilates is often used as part of a rehabilitation program and particularly suits people who are experiencing chronic or recurring pain, or those recovering from injury or surgery.
Because people in these situations often find certain motions and exercising difficult, adjustments to positions and movements provide the opportunity to build up strength and increase flexibility, enhancing recovery and minimising injuries in the future.
4. Helps Improve Sports Performance
Pilates is a terrific complement to any sport training program as it works on strength and stamina, while also providing balance, flexibility and mobility. All these are essential to improve your sporting performance by helping you move with more speed, balance and agility. They also reduce your injury risk.
5. Provides a Pelvic Muscle Workout
The pelvic muscles also get a workout from Pilates. The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that run along the bottom of the pelvis from the pubic area to the bottom of your spine.
Strengthening the pelvic floor helps to prevent bladder and bowel issues, improves sexual function and may help women with the delivery of their babies.
6. Improves Your Mind
Clinical Pilates involves undertaking several tasks at one time, such as stretching, lifting and balancing, while also practicing controlled breathing. This causes your sense of focus and mental discipline to get a workout along with your body.
Your memory and other cognitive functions may also improve, thanks to the constant thinking, processing and learning that a Clinical Pilates session promotes.
7. A Fantastic Mood Improver
Exercise is definitely a winner for making you feel better. Feeling fit and flexible, more relaxed and experiencing the release of endorphins all contributes to a better mood and who doesn’t want that?
It doesn’t matter whether you are recovering from an injury, have chronic pain, want a stronger core or just want to feel better overall – enquire about Clinical Pilates at Melbourne Sports Physiotherapy and be on your way to …