Clinical Pilates vs. Traditional Pilates: Why Clinical Sessions Offer Targeted Rehabilitation

Clinical Pilates, also known as clinical rehabilitation or clinical exercise, is a specialised form of Pilates conducted by physiotherapists. Unlike traditional Pilates, which typically takes place in group settings, Clinical Pilates is highly personalised and conducted one-on-one. This approach allows for tailored exercise programs that address individual injuries and physical needs, offering a level of customisation that is not possible in non-clinical Pilates classes.

Designed by physical therapists, Clinical Pilates focuses on rehabilitating injuries and enhancing movement patterns through targeted exercises. Each program begins with a detailed physiotherapy assessment to ensure the exercises are aligned with your specific needs and goals. By strengthening core muscles, improving spinal alignment, and reducing muscle imbalances, Clinical Pilates not only aids in recovery but also helps prevent future injuries, making it an ideal choice for those seeking effective and personalised rehabilitation.

Why Clinical Sessions Offer Targeted Rehabilitation?

Clinical Pilates is a form of exercise designed by physical therapists to help rehabilitate injuries and improve movement patterns. It can include specialised equipment like reformers as well as smaller props/equipment such as balls and exercise bands.

Each Clinical Pilates program begins with a detailed physiotherapy assessment to ensure your needs drive the exercise selection and progressions. This individualised approach sets you up for success in your rehabilitation and will help you reach your fitness goals much faster than group classes alone.

The main goal of Clinical Pilates is to strengthen the core muscles – including the deep abdominal and pelvic floor muscles – to allow better spinal alignment, improve movement control and reduce muscle imbalances. This enables you to recover from injury and reduce the chance of future injuries.

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Clinical Pilates sessions are conducted by qualified physiotherapists and can be claimed from your health fund as part of your physiotherapy treatment plan. Check with your health fund to see what rebates you may be eligible for.

It’s Not Just About Strengthening

Whether you have an injury that won’t go away, are recovering from surgery, or want to improve your day-to-day movement, Clinical Pilates is the way to go. The key difference is that it is implemented and tailored by a healthcare practitioner (such as a physiotherapist) to your individual rehabilitation goals.

This includes a comprehensive assessment, manual therapy, and movement education that evolves as you progress. Your physiotherapist will guide you through a series of therapeutic exercises to help improve your strength, stability, balance and core and pelvic floor strengthening.

The sessions are in small groups and taught by a physiotherapist with additional training in Clinical Pilates. The small groups allow for more individual attention and observation of each participant’s movement to help make modifications where required without risking aggravating your injuries or pain. This ensures you are making the best possible gains without putting your injury at risk. This one-on-one approach also allows your physiotherapist to progress the Pilates program as you improve, ensuring it continues to challenge and support your recovery.

It’s Not Just About Posture

Clinical Pilates utilises Pilates exercises and principles to encourage the activation of deep supportive core muscles to improve posture, flexibility and balance, while reducing back pain. As a rehabilitative exercise, it aims to address any deficits in spinal mobility and muscle strength, which are often the predisposing factors for injury recurrence.

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Clinical sessions, such as those at Excel Body Health, are led by instructors with extra training in rehabilitation—usually physiotherapists. This enables them to conduct a thorough initial assessment and develop a personalised program that considers your specific injuries, physical limitations, and goals.

If you are a healthy individual seeking to boost your overall strength and fitness, then regular Pilates classes will meet your needs. However, if you have existing musculoskeletal injuries or are looking to prevent further injury, then the combination of Pilates and physiotherapy offered in clinical sessions will be much more beneficial. With a detailed assessment and a tailored program, you are more likely to achieve the results that you want faster.

It’s Not Just About Flexibility

Pilates is a fantastic form of exercise for healthy individuals looking to enhance posture, strength, flexibility and balance. However, when it comes to injury rehabilitation Pilates exercises need to be modified and targeted to the individual.

This is where Clinical Pilates differs from traditional classes. Unlike regular Pilates, which is done in group settings where multiple people follow one instructor and complete the same moves, Clinical Pilates is performed on a 1:1 basis with a qualified physiotherapist or exercise physiologist.

Your physiotherapist will apply their deep understanding of the body’s mechanics to tailor your Clinical Pilates program. They will ensure that you are working within your injury risk threshold, so you can make steady and sustainable progress towards your health goals.

Personalised Rehabilitation Advantage

In conclusion, Clinical Pilates offers a highly personalised approach to rehabilitation that sets it apart from traditional Pilates. With tailored programs designed by physiotherapists, Clinical Pilates addresses individual injuries and physical needs, ensuring effective recovery and prevention of future issues. The one-on-one sessions and detailed assessments provide a comprehensive and customised rehabilitation plan, making it a superior choice for those seeking targeted and efficient rehabilitation. Whether recovering from an injury, post-surgery, or aiming to enhance overall movement, Clinical Pilates provides the specialised care needed for optimal results.

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