Monday, June 24, 2013

Pilates Therapy - The Critical Combination of Successful Rehab and Fitness


Physical therapy and Pilates are great alternative body strengthening concepts that work well individually and stand on their own merits.? However, with Pilates therapy, the combination of consistent Pilates work in a rehabilitation environment provides a powerful one-two punch to improving the look and feel of your body and overall healing process.? This combined effort is your best attack to a healthier, more fit you.

To understand the benefits of this dynamic duo, first we need to understand a little bit more about what Pilates and physical therapy are.

Here is a little bit about Pilates...

Joseph Pilates originally developed a strengthening program in the early 20th century called Pilates.? This mind-body workout and way of life uses six main principles:

??????? Concentration

??????? Control

??????? Centering

??????? Precision

??????? Flowing movement

??????? Breathing

After decades of being enjoyed only by the elite, the mainstream exercise community caught up with Pilates principles in 1980.? Now it has evolved into many fitness settings for its gentle yet challenging workout.

Pilates is performed on a mat and/or special machines also created by Joseph Pilates.? The equipment, which has also progressed over time, utilizes resistance from the participant's body weight.? Practicing the carefully controlled positions and form on the equipment helps improve alignment, core strength, flexibility, body motion and awareness, and overall tones and strengthens the entire body.?

The continuous rhythmic movements of Pilates mixed with proper breathing and correct alignment help you become more sensitive to how your body feels.? This heightened awareness will give you better control of your posture, daily and functional tasks, and sports and recreational activities.? With a strong emphasis on breath control, Pilates helps you perform movements with peak performance and efficiency as well.

Regardless of your age, fitness level, or athletic background, Pilates is a safe and effective exercise regimen when it's tailored for individual needs, taught correctly, and closely supervised by a trained Pilates instructor.

With regard to physical therapy...

It is believed that physical therapy was first used to treat people back in 460 B.C.? The practitioners were Hippocrates and Galenus and they advocated massage, hydrotherapy, and manual therapy techniques.

In the eighteenth century, the development of orthopedics also brought the development of machines to help treat diseases such as gout.? This was accomplished by using the systemic exercise of joints which are similar to ensuing advancements in physical therapy.

In today's society, a layman definition of physical therapy is the technique used to provide treatment of pain, disease, or injury by physical means.? The process begins with an assessment and treatment of that pain, disease, and injury using physical therapeutic measures as opposed to medical, surgical, or radiologic measures.? Much of the treatment involves the concepts of strengthening muscles, improving balance, and increasing flexibility.

A select few physical therapy facilities offer both physical therapy rehabilitation as well as Pilates.? Those that do recognize Pilates therapy as a beneficial part of a patient's rehabilitation.

The Pilates core stability method addresses posture, muscle function and motor control just as physical therapy does, plus it can be modified even more to fit the needs of each patient while still being very effective at nurturing pain and injury-free living.? In addition, it contributes to the fitness level that a therapist is striving as it relates to their patient's healthy well-being.

As a result of this combination of skills, in physical therapy clinics that incorporate Pilates into rehabilitation programs, IE: Pilates therapy, skilled and highly qualified therapists are now trained in movement dysfunction, anatomy, physiology and injury prevention.? In addition, they have the ability to adapt Pilates exercises for each clients specific physical requirements, such as certain conditions, post-surgery limitations and/or pain.? And for those using Polestar Pilates, they are utilizing an approach that integrates Pilates with current scientific findings and is the industry standard.

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