Pilates Physiotherapy – Everything You Need to Know About It

Pilates is a joyous mind-body exercise that is now well recognised worldwide for its promising health and fitness opportunities. This low-impact exercise does it all, from strengthening your muscles to improving postural alignment, flexibility, and fitness. Additionally, it also helps to relieve discomfort from the back, neck, and joints through a variety of floor exercises and equipment in a seemingly magical fashion.

If you regularly use Pilates therapy, it’s likely that you stopped using all painkillers after around six months of regular use. We urge patients who are recovering to enroll in Pilates reformer sessions to hasten their recuperation at Southgate Physio in North London, UK.

The worn-out and injured tissues and muscles can be nursed back to health with the help of Joseph Pilates’ therapy. At Southgate Physio London, we help our patients recover by utilising the benefits of Pilates physiotherapy.

What is Pilates?

Joseph Pilates, a German physical trainer, created the Pilates workout method in the early 20th century. It stresses the utilisation of the core muscles, which include the abs, back, and hips, as well as controlled movements. Pilates is a low-impact exercise that is appropriate for people of all ages and fitness levels and is intended to enhance flexibility, strength, posture, and balance. It is a fitness method that regulates movement in a manner similar to exercises. Pilates can help you increase your body’s strength and endurance whilst also helping you become more flexible. The exercises can be done independently or in a group class environment and can be done on a mat or with specialised apparatus, such as a reformer or a Cadillac.

Do you believe that altering your exercise regimen will improve your results? Try out the Pilates services that Southgate Physio offers.

Advantages of Pilates

Pilates can improve your health in several ways, including:

• Strengthens the core
• Posture improvement
• Back pain reduction
• Prevents injuries
• Boosts energy
• Improves body awareness
• Increases flexibility, mobility, and balance, and prevents injuries
• Increases immunity
• Curbs stress

Who is Pilates Ideal for?

Regardless of age, Pilates is appropriate for everyone, including the elderly, future mothers, and children. Many people use Pilates to lose weight and relieve back discomfort. It is advantageous to athletes as well.

How Does Pilates Help Your Body?

Pilates works wonders for your body and helps it realign in multiple ways. Keep reading to gain insight.

Enhanced Flexibility and Posture: Pilates uses regulated movements to amplify flexibility and enhance posture.

Core Muscles: Strengthening the core muscles, which include the abs, back, and hips, is a primary goal of Pilates.

Reduced Stress and Tension: The slow, controlled movements of Pilates are intended to help lower stress and tension in the body.

Increased Body Awareness: Body awareness is strengthened by Pilates, which also helps with balance. This results in better coordination and a lower risk of injury.

Improved Athletic Performance: Strength, flexibility, and balance are all increased by Pilates, which helps to improve athletic performance.

Low-Impact Workout: Pilates is a low-impact exercise, making it appropriate for individuals of all ages and fitness levels, including those who have injuries or physical restrictions.

What Sets Pilates Apart from Other Forms of Exercise?

Pilates, in contrast to other forms of exercise, benefits the entire human system, including the mind. To ensure that the other body parts can move freely, it concentrates on the body’s centre. As a result, the body becomes stronger from the inside as well as the outside. You can keep a perfect balance between your strength and flexibility with its assistance.

Key Principles of Pilates

Here are the primary principles of Pilates:

Centering: The emphasis on building the core muscles—often referred to as the “powerhouse”—includes the abs, the back, and the hips.

Control: Rather than focusing on brisk, jerky movements, Pilates stresses controlled, precise movements.

Flow: Pilates exercises should flow into one another naturally, with movements that are smooth and fluid.

Precision: To maximise the benefits and lower the risk of injury, Pilates requires precise alignment and technique.

Breath: Pilates emphasises the use of breath, with appropriate breathing techniques being employed to aid with control, stability, and general relaxation.

Concentration: Pilates movements need concentration because the mind and body must work in unison to complete them.

Whole-Body Movement: The Pilates method emphasises using the whole body whilst integrating and coordinating the mind and muscles.

Pilates helps to enhance flexibility, strength, posture, and general physical and mental well-being by incorporating these principles.

Types of Pilates

The common types of Pilates are:

Classical Pilates: This is the form of workout that Joseph Pilates created in the beginning and is regarded as the most conventional one. It incorporates all 34 exercises from Joseph Pilates’ initial curriculum and adheres to his basic ideas.

Modernised Pilates, or “Contemporary Pilates”: Integrates, updates, and adapts the traditional routines to make them more useful and efficient.

Mat Pilates: Pilates that is practised on a mat without the use of any specific equipment is known as mat Pilates. It is a versatile, low-impact variation of Pilates that may be done anywhere.

Pilates with Special Equipment: In this type of Pilates, pieces of equipment like the reformer, Cadillac, or Wunda chair are used to support and add resistance to the exercises.

Clinical Pilates: A physical therapist or certified Pilates instructor is often present when performing clinical Pilates, which is a type of discipline used for rehabilitation and injury recovery.

Power Pilates: Power Pilates is a vigorous variation of the Pilates method that incorporates both cardio and strength-training components for a total-body workout.

Prenatal Pilates: This type of Pilates is created especially for expectant mothers, with adjustments made to the exercises to adapt to the changing body and safeguard the developing foetus.

Common Equipment Used in Pilates

Mat: This is the most fundamental piece of Pilates equipment, and many exercises can be done solely on the floor with a mat.

Reformer: Pilates exercises can be strengthened and made more challenging with the use of a reformer, a sliding carriage that slides back and forth on a frame.

Cadillac: The Cadillac, also known as a Trapeze Table, is a sizable, multipurpose piece of equipment that may be utilised for a range of exercises and activities.

Wunda Chair: This compact, transportable piece of fitness gear can be used to support and add resistance to Pilates routines.

Ladder Barrel: To provide resistance and support for Pilates movements, this barrel-shaped piece of equipment with rungs is often used.

Stability ball: A stability ball, often referred to as a fitness ball, can be used in Pilates exercises to create diversity, provide an unstable surface, and test core stability and balance.

Foam Roller: In Pilates, a foam roller is used to conduct a variety of back, leg, and arm movements to support and stretch the spine.

Why Choose Southgate Physio for Pilates?

Southgate Physio can assist you if you’re sick of taking painkillers. We have created a type of Pilates that is appropriate for both newcomers and seasoned practitioners. The patients who are in the recovery stages receive dedicated assistance from our skilled staff. Their rehabilitation could be sped up by our services.

Pilates for Beginners classes at Southgate train you with the tools, and methods necessary to enhance your general health and physical structure. For runners and the elderly, we set up personalised Pilates sessions that meet their needs. Additionally, we offer 1:1 Pilates reformer classes.

Call our knowledgeable therapists at 0208 368 6767, send us an email at info@southgatephysio.co.uk, or stop by our Southgate Physio office to make an appointment for Pilates physiotherapy.

FAQs

• What sort of exercise is Pilates?
It is a type of physical activity that focuses on building core strength in the body. It enhances general health and fitness.

• What is the purpose of Pilates?
Pilates can help with posture, joint mobility, body balance, and muscular health when practised regularly.

• Can Pilates help you lose weight?
Pilates promotes lean muscular mass and increased muscle strength. It boosts metabolism and burns calories, which can help someone lose weight.

• What distinguishes Pilates from yoga?
Yoga increases body flexibility and joint mobility, whereas Pilates improves posture, and body balance, and tightens muscles.

• What are the fundamental Pilates moves?
The fundamental exercises are breathing, shoulder bridge practise, leg lifts, and toe touches, which are all core Pilates exercises.

• What are the essential Pilates exercises for beginners?
Beginners should focus on the following core exercises: swimming, modified roll-ups, single-leg circles, rolling like a ball, single-leg core, and double-leg core.

• Do I belong in Pilates?
Pilates is the best exercise for you if you want to build your body’s strength and flexibility.

• Should I do Pilates if I have a health condition?
Even if you have health conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, Pilates can be a terrific addition to your aerobic workout since it can be customised to your specific needs. Consult your physician beforehand.

If you want to know more, feel free to get in touch with us by calling 0208 3686767 or emailing us at info@southgatephysio.co.uk

Physiotherapy Services We Offer

Our clinic offers a wide range of treatments that are all recommended and tailored to everyone who comes and visits us. Our range of treatments complements the body and mind, helping to keep you pain and injury-free, delivering preventative measures to maintain your well-being and enhance your performance levels.

Our main aim is to restore your personal well-being so you can enjoy an active, healthy, and pain-free life. Click on any of the services to find out a little more about each treatment and understand if it might be right for you.

• Home Visit Physiotherapy
• Sports Injury Rehabilitation
• Musculoskeletal Injuries Treatment
• Pain Management
• Pilates
• Acupuncture
• Shockwave Therapy
• Theraflex
• Pre and Post Operative Rehabilitation
• Elderly Rehabilitation
• Sports Massage
• Online Video Consultation
• Sports Physiotherapy