Pilates

What is Pilates?

Pilates is a form of exercise based on the improving strength in the body’s core, focusing on the abdominal muscles, upper and lower back and buttocks. Pilates exercises are known for improving strength, flexibility, coordination, and posture without placing undue pressure on the joints for cardiovascular system.

What is Pilates-based physical therapy?

Pilates-based physical therapy combines the therapeutic movements and techniques of classical Pilates with traditional physical therapy treatments to help patients improve strength, flexibility and range of motion. It keeps the whole body in mind with an emphasis on alignment and balancing muscular forces around the joints to promote efficient and pain free movement. The philosophies of physical therapy and Pilates are so similar that the integration of the two makes perfect sense. Pilates based physical therapy is based on the principle that movement oriented physical therapy can provide patients with an opportunity to have positive experiences and success with movement, shifting them away from the belief that movement and exercise are painful.

Does a physical therapist need special training to incorporate Pilates into treatment?

Yes, in order to offer this treatment, Dr. Bythrow completed a thorough Pilates teacher training program. While many of the principles and the anatomy and physiology information is the same, Pilates exercises and movements are very specific and need to be carried out with precise form for optimum benefit.

What are the benefits of Pilates based physical therapy?

By focusing holistically on improving strength, flexibility and range of motion in the whole body, patients learn that movement does not need to be painful. The added strength throughout the body promotes healing and can lead to injury prevention. The treatment is often seen as more flexible than other physical therapy treatments, as Pilates exercises offer a variety of modifications for different levels of ability. As patients move through the modifications, it is obvious to them that they are getting stronger and more flexible, offering a feeling of success and progress.