What is Pilates?
Pilates is a method of exercise invented by Joseph Humbertus Pilates (GREAT name) in the 1900s. It is essentially a mind-body centering technique that emphasises the importance of beginning movements from a central core of stability.
From the central core, the Pilates method modulates the intensity of exercise by using different lengths of levers and resistance. It also concentrates on the precision of movement, awareness of breath control and a continued flow of the movements.
Are there different kinds of Pilates?
There are two main categories of Pilates, namely Mat-work and Equipment.
Mat-work is a combination of the original 34 Pilates exercises, consisting of strength, mobility and stretching, that Joseph developed in his early years. The main theme of mat-work Pilates is maintaining a central core of stability while moving other parts of the body. The repertories of mat-work Pilates is sometimes modified by using small equipment, e.g. Pilates ring, balls, or therabands.
Equipment Pilates takes the concepts of Matwork onto spring-loaded resistance machines. The most commonly used equipment in Pilates is the Reformer, followed by the Cadillac and Wunda chair.
In the clinical world, equipment Pilates is generally a progression of Matwork and usually only taught after basic principles of Pilates (e.g. breathing, centering and control) have been established.
Can Pilates treat back pain?
The answer is… It depends. The repertoire of Pilates themselves do not treat back pain, but they do help your recovery when they are professionally prescribed targeting the deficits you have with your condition. Extending further from this, Pilates (when performed clinically and under professional guidance) can help with other conditions e.g. neck pain, shoulder pain, or even rehab for a hamstring strain/tendinopathy.
Is Pilates suitable for me?
If you are injury-free and would like to work on your core and mind-body control, I would say (with some bias) try it. Of course, learning it from someone who is professionally trained would be my recommendation especially when you first start.
There are different forms of Pilates and training institutes on the market at the moment, in which I believe Fitness Pilates is the form that the majority of people are practising. It has more focus on the “burn” and is more suitable for someone who is injury-free.
On the other end of the spectrum we have clinical Pilates, which is more suitable for those with pre-existing conditions, as mentioned above.
In Grafton Physio we have clinicians who are APPI-certified for Matwork Pilates and APPI-trained for Equipment Pilates. We are capable of assessing and explaining to you about your condition and potential deficits that you have, and making a plan together with you on how we could work on it.
Amanda Kot,
Grade 2 Physiotherapist.
(Pilates Master)