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Clinical Pilates Myths and Facts

We would like to talk about Clinical Pilates myths and facts. At Complete Wellness Physiotherapy we decided to find out what our clients thought or knew about Clinical Pilates. So we designed two questionnaires for them to complete. One for our patients who hadn’t taken part in a clinical Pilates program and one for patients who had.

When we read the results of the questionnaire for people who hadn’t taken part in a Clinical Pilates program, we were astounded! There were several misconceptions which we felt were important to change, as Clinical Pilates is a much more specific and specialised management method than people were giving it credit for.

The most common mistakes

For the most part people believed:

  • A Pilates Instructor can prescribe Clinical Pilates
  • Clinical Pilates improves only core strength and flexibility
  • Clinical Pilates can only be performed in a gym or clinic

Firstly, it is important that our patients understand that the Clinical Pilates program they receive at Complete Wellness Physiotherapy cannot be received from a Pilates instructor. A Clinical Pilates program is specifically tailored to each individual based on the problem, injury or disease they present with. Only a DMA Clinical Pilates trained physiotherapist is able to perform the assessment and subsequently prescribe a specific exercise regiment because he/she will know how to match an exercise with a patient’s pathology amd movement/direction preference. This means that the Clinical Pilates service provided by the physios at Complete Wellness Physiotherapy cannot be received from a Pilates instructor, as it is so much more specific and requires the intimate knowledge of human function that only a physiotherapist can provide.

The outcomes that Clinical Pilates provide was another misconception commonly found. Most people thought that Clinical Pilates could improve mainly only strength, core strength and flexibility. Very few people knew that Clinical Pilates could improve pain or bone strength. The truth is that Clinical Pilates improves not only core strength and flexibility, but also balance, movement control & coordination, muscle endurance, stability, breathing and bone strength. In the elderly, improvements in balance and bone strength are very important as people who have strong bones and good balance are far less likely to suffer fractures.

The fact that so few people believed Clinical Pilates could help manage pain was concerning, because current research has found that Clinical Pilates is extremely effective at managing pain! Patients with chronic pain can find fast and vast improvements in their levels of pain when managed with Clinical Pilates.

At Complete Wellness Physiotherapy we have a Clinical Pilates astudio which contains some highly specialised and state of the art equipment used to augment Clinical Pilates exercises. The exercises performed using these pieces of equipment would be difficult to do at home and are more effective due to the sensory feedback they provide. That being said, Clinical Pilates exercises CAN be performed at home! Our Physios generally prescribe some simpler exercises that patients can do at home in-between sessions to keep on top of the problem.

At Complete Wellness Physiotherapy we not only treat patients but promote active lifestyles. Clinical Pilates is a fantastic form of exercise with a huge array of benefits. You don’t need to be sick or injured to experience the benefits that Clinical Pilates has to offer. Clinical Pilates is a great treatment to deal with low back pain, chronic pain, or a joint injury. But even if you’re not injured or ill, Clinical Pilates can still be highly beneficial. At Complete Wellness Physiotherapy we would recommend Clinical Pilates to anyone, especially women, over the age of 65 as a tool to incorporate into their lifestyle, as Clinical Pilates improves balance, coordination and bone strength, attribute which prevent falls and fractures. Moreover regular exercise has been shown to significantly improve a sense of well being and fight depression. Through Clinical Pilates you receive enhanced benefits as a physio understands how your body works and the best way to maximise improvements.

The results from the second questionnaire, which was completed by patients who had taken part in a Clinical Pilates program, yielded much better outcomes.

Every single person who completed the questionnaire was happy and satisfied with the program, every single person found significant improvements in their pain and function, and 100% of people who took part in a Clinical Pilates program at Complete Wellness Physiotherapy would recommend it to a friend.

Clinical Pilates is Physiotherapy

At Complete Wellness Physiotherapy Kalamunda, we use a variety of treatment modalities in our scope of practice. These include manipulation, mobilisation, acupuncture, kinesiotaping, ultrasound and many others. However, by far the modality used the most is our Clinical Pilates program. This is due to the strong interrelationship between a Clinical Pilates regime and the principles of physiotherapy as a means of healing and the maintenance of function and movement. Clinical Pilates aims to address the cause of the problem, not just the symptoms

In most cases, a physiotherapist will prescribe exercise as part of a treatment plan.

Clinical Pilates is exercise, specifically designed to match a person’s individual needs. For this reason we at Complete Wellness Physiotherapy prefer to implement Clinical Pilates to patients who require exercise, as Clinical Pilates has a number of benefits when compared to regular exercise.

There are two main reasons why we at Complete Wellness Physiotherapy prefer to prescribe a Clinical Pilates program over regular exercise.

Clinical Pilates makes use of specific exercises which are tailored to each individual.

A qualified Clinical Pilates trained physiotherapist performs the assessments which help determine the most effective exercises for the patient based on their preferred movement direction and the side of the body which is causing the problem. Nearly every patient displays a “direction preference” (direction their body prefers to move in) and a problem side (side of the body from where the problems arise). Only a Clinical Pilates trained physiotherapist is qualified to determine these and once assessed only a physio can prescribe the specific exercises to match the individual. This has benefits over regular exercise which is multidirectional and non-specific, and furthermore Clinical Pilates exercises provide the body with superior sensory feedback, which enhances the effect of exercise. For these reasons Clinical Pilates is superior to regular exercise.

Clinical Pilates exercises offer a far larger range of benefits compared to regular exercise.

As mentioned, Clinical Pilates exercises are specific to the individual and move in a direction which the body finds therapeutic. Moreover as the exercises are determined by a qualified Clinical Pilates trained physiotherapist with knowledge of human function, the exercises are highly functional and therefore enhance the effect of normal exercise.

Subsequently, people who take part in Clinical Pilates often find that not only is their original problem improved, but they notice improvements in balance, strength, coordination and flexibility. Furthermore the regimen of highly specific and effective exercise improve a person’s sense of well being, which means Clinical Pilates helps the mind as well as the body.

What is Clinical Pilates

Clinical Pilates is a system of safe and effective exercises which meet your specific individual needs. One of the DMA Clinical Pilates trained physiotherapists at CW Physio will assess you to determine what is called your “Direction Preference.” A direction preference is simply the direction in which your body likes to move, and by exercising into this direction, Clinical Pilates very effectively and specifically treats the cause of your particular problem.

Clinical Pilates is used by our physiotherapists to treat a wide range of injuries and conditions, ranging from low back pain and chronic pain to hypermobility and dysautonomia and chronic fatigue syndrome. By working into your body’s preferred movement, Clinical Pilates improves your movement, stability, balance, posture and overall function.

The exercises prescribed in a CWP Clinical Pilates program are highly specialised and specific to each individual. The exercises you receive depends on your direction preference, current fitness level and your aim of treatment, (which usually is to decrease your pain, improve your movement and fix your problem)

Because of this, Clinical Pilates offers a system of safe, effective and highly specific exercises appropriate for all ages and people. There are stages of exercises that you can progress through and will allow you to see the improvements in your strength, control and healing.

Differences between Regular and Clinical Pilates

There are three important differences between regular Pilates and clinical Pilates.

  1. Regular Pilates offers general exercises, whereas the exercises prescribed in a Clinical Pilates session are specific. This means that a normal Pilates program will consist of non-specific exercises which are multi-directional. Clinical Pilates offers a program that is direction specific and therefore will enhance the effect of the exercise. An example of this is low back pain that is disc related. Usually, such patients will be more comfortable moving into lumbar extension (i.e bending backwards). So a typical Clinical Pilates program will contain exercises that move such a person into lumbar extension only.
  2. Regular Pilates classes normally recommend a generalised program of exercises to each person, where as with Clinical Pilates, each patient is prescribed specific exercises that are tailored to those individuals’ precise needs.
  3. Regular Pilates is conducted by a Pilates instructor, whereas Clinical Pilates is prescribed and supervised by a Clinical Pilates trained Physiotherapist. This difference is very important because a Physiotherapist, unlike a Pilates instructor, has an in-depth knowledge of injury, pathology, bodily function and healing. This knowledge allows a Physiotherapist to assess each patient and determine which exercises will be the most effective for each individual.

How is Clinical Pilates used at Complete Wellness Physiotherapy?

The staff at Complete Wellness Physiotherapy in Kalamunda have all completed post-graduate qualifications in DMA Clinical Pilates.

Moz Quinn, the practice principal, is a senior lecturer and presenter with Dance Medicine Australia (DMA Clinical Pilates and Physiotheray). In this capacity, Moz trains physiotherapists around Australia in the theoetical and practical application of Clinical Pilates. His involvement ensures that CWP remains at the cutting edge of evidence-based physiotherapy and Clinical Pilates.

THE PROGRAM

Initial Assessment

The Clinical Pilates program always begins with an assessment. This is a 40 minute session in which one of our Physiotherapists will determine which exercises will work best for you.

This involves determining which direction your body prefers to move in, and your current level of balance, stability and muscle activity. To assist with establishing specific muscle activity, the session may include the use of Real Time Ultrasound, which will allow our Physiotherapists to look at how well the deep muscles of you back and abdomen are working.

Supervised Session

Once your specific exercises have been established, you can begin taking part in supervised sessions in the Clinical Pilates studio. These sessions are one hour long and are fully supervised by one of our physiotherapists, who assess your technique to ensure the exercises are being performed correctly and answer any questions you may have. A maximum of three participants can attend a supervised session.

Independent Sessions

Once you feel confident and competent with your specific program, you can advance to an independent program, where you will be able to use our studio and its equipment at regular intervals on your own. A Physiotherapist will regularly monitor your process and prescribe more advanced exercises as you progress.

Complete Wellness Physiotherapy also offers Clinical Pilates Memberships, details of which can be obtained from our front desk staff.

Equipment used at Complete Wellness Physiotherapy

The Clinical Pilates program at Complete Wellness Physiotherapy incorporates the use of state of the art equipment, manufactured by DMA Clinical Pilates.

The Clinical Reformer

The Clinical Reformer is a piece of equipment developed by DMA Clinical Pilates in Melbourne which has been specifically designed to accommodate and augment Clinical Pilates exercise based on the most up-to-date research findings. Importantly the Clinical Reformer is multi-adjustable and very safe, allowing for people of any age or fitness level to perform the specific exercises that best suit their needs.

The Full Trapeze Table

The Full Trapeze Table is the largest and most versatile piece of equipment produced by DMA Clinical Pilates. The Full Trapeze Table accommodates an extensive range of Clinical Pilates exercises and allows for these exercises to be performed safely at a variety of resistance levels. Like the Clinical Reformer, the Full Trapeze Table was developed based on the most recent research findings regarding spinal stability training.

CWP in Kalamunda also makes use of a variety of accessory equuipment which is used to augment the Clinical Pilates exercises being performed using our equipment, ensuring that our patients receive the most appropriate exercise possible.

Benefits of Clinical Pilates

A great aspect of Clinical Pilates is the positive result it has on the human body as a whole. Clinical Pilates is evidence-based and is used to treat and manage low back pain and spinal pain, however the benefits do not stop there. As well as being excellent with pain management, Clinical Pilates has been shown to prevent injuries, improve balance and stability, strengthen and tone muscle and improve bone density.

Clinical Pilates has also been shown to improve neural function, combat depression and promote a strong sense of well being. And finally, due to its high effectiveness, research shows that patients participating in Clinical Pilates programs spend less and are more satisfied with their treatments.

  • Prevention and treatment of back pain & injury
  • Resolution of spinal pain
  • Enhanced core stability and pelvic floor function
  • For the elderly, enhancement in movement, balance, agility and flexibility
  • Falls prevention
  • Muscle toning without adding bulk
  • Increased bone density (for Osteopaenia & Osteoporosis)