The Benefits of Clinical Pilates for Allied Health Professionals
What is clinical Pilates?
Clinical Pilates is the adaptation of Joseph Pilates’ exercises and concepts into the clinical space. Through this adaptation, it becomes a tailored, client-centric treatment regime that works towards meeting the individual goals of each and every patient.
Modifiable to all clinical settings, it differs from non-clinical Pilates (or more traditional Pilates) as it is conducted by an allied health professional who has additional qualifications in delivering Pilates with the patient's injuries and specific needs in mind.
However, clinical Pilates is still cemented in the 8 original Pilates principles formulated by Joseph.
- Breathing: the mechanics of breathing impact function and muscle engagement
- Concentration: Pilates is a workout of the mind and the body
- Control: movement control is elemental in building strength against resistance and gravity
- Centering: the activation of deep supportive core muscles provides stability and a strong foundation for movement and performance
- Precision: a long-term goal to ensure maximum functional gains
- Flow: linking exercises together to support functional movements
- Integrated Isolation: building body awareness to recognise incorrect patterns of movement and correct them in everyday life
- Routine: repetition leads to greater skills and benefits and builds muscle memory
Non-clinical Pilates can be beneficial for the general population; however, it does lack the personalisation that may be essential for a patient’s progress or specific injury management.
Although deeply rooted within the Pilates principles, clinical Pilates differs in some foundational concepts as it encourages the activation of deep supportive core muscles rather than global activation of the muscles of the trunk. Evidence suggests that this may be more beneficial to creating stability for movement.
To be delivered with the greatest of care, clinical Pilates requires an initial 1:1 assessment with the instructor, who will take into account the injury history, specific pathologies, movement dysfunctions and symptom presentation, to develop an individualised program with patient goals as the focus.
Programs may include the use of large Pilates equipment such as a reformer or cadillac, or may consist of Pilates exercises conducted in varying positions on a mat. As a patient’s strength and confidence improves, they may wish to continue in individual 1:1 sessions or continue to develop their skills in a tailored group session.
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Benefits of treating patients with clinical Pilates?
Beneficial for both patient and clinician, it is not uncommon for clinical Pilates to form an integral part of rehabilitation, both in the short and long terms. Providing clinical Pilates as a part of their services allows health professionals to ensure that they are supporting patients from the very acute stage through to end stage rehabilitation and can often fill the gap between cessation of acute symptoms and full return to sport.
With an in-depth understanding of the principles of Pilates coupled with sound clinical reasoning skills, a clinician has the freedom to adapt and modify aspects of the Pilates repertoire to provide a positive platform for movement from which to enhance performance. With this level of specificity, clinicians can expect that their patients will see greater treatment gains and faster progress which benefits all.
When delivered in a way that gives patients a deeper understanding of the clinical rationale of each prescribed exercise, clinicians are empowering their patients to take responsibility for their rehabilitation and draws both patient and clinician out of the mentality of ‘therapist dependence’, which is key for long term success.
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Benefits of completing your clinical Pilates training with Unite Health?
Instructed by selected experts within their fields, Unite Health delivers APPI courses both in Australia and New Zealand. Open to all allied health professionals, this internationally recognised certification can be utilised in over 24 different countries of the world; taking a clinician’s career into locations that may have never been dreamed of.
As the leading provider of clinical Pilates courses within Australia, Unite Health ensures that this qualification continues to hold weight within the clinical world by ensuring that the course content is evidence based and delivered by clinical Pilates experts who are committed to their own continuous professional development.
The certification requirements ensure that a certified individual has demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the repertoire, clinically sound exercise prescription and has fulfilled many hours of self-practice, teaching practice and varied class attendance.
Recognisable on a national and international level, employers seek out Unite Health graduates as they can trust that their APPI trained staff will deliver an excellent standard of teaching and holistic care to their customers – ensuring both their clinics’ reputation and patient satisfaction.