Clinical Pilates

Clinical Pilates is a form of physical exercise that focuses on posture, core stability, balance, strength, flexibility and breathing. Pilates was originally developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates, who found a love for teaching others about exercise and fitness. During the First World War, Joseph Pilates interned in a camp on the Isle of Man (England). It was here that he developed his physical fitness program and began devising apparatus to aim in the rehabilitation of the sick and those badly injured.

Pilates utilises the mind-body connection and challenges the body to work in optimum movement patterns. It is now accepted as a complementary treatment tool to physiotherapy. It is particularly beneficial for injuries to the neck and back. Today there is a large amount of evidence in the literature that supports the retraining, activating and strengthening of the deep stabilisers, more commonly known as ‘the core’, for rehabilitation of back pain. It is important to note that clinical pilates exercises need to be specifically prescribed for each individual rather than being used as a generic tool.

At Renew Physiotherapy our pilates physiotherapists have completed extensive post graduate pilates training to ensure that clinical pilates is suitable for our clients. Our physiotherapists also closely monitor the exercises to make sure they are performed in a safe and correct manner to enhance rehabilitation rather than exacerbate the condition.

Renew Physiotherapy clinical pilates can assist with:

Neck and shoulder pain
Lower back and pelvic pain
Hip and knee pain
Postural problems
Improving sporting performance
Chronic pain
Rehabilitation after motor vehicle or work related accidents
Recovery from sports injuries.

Safe modified programs are available for:

Pre-natal
Post-natal
The elderly.

Getting Started

At Renew Physiotherapy we appreciate that everybody is different and that each individual’s pathology may present slightly differently. For this reason we require all patients to undergo a one-hour assessment with a clinical pilates physiotherapist. During this initial consultation, the physiotherapist will address particular concerns or goals with the individual, perform a physical assessment to ensure that only the most suitable of exercises are prescribed, and then a detailed explanation of the assessment will be given to each individual client.

Following the assessment, you will most likely be sent home with some exercises and introduced to the clinical pilates equipment. As we respect that everyone is different, we do not specify how many individual clinical pilates sessions must be done prior to joining a class.

Clinical Pilates Classes

At Renew Physiotherapy clinical pilates classes are run in our naturally lit, modern studio. Our classes have a maximum of four clients in each class. We offer multiple clinical pilates classes each week at a variety of times to accommodate for every individual’s busy schedule. These sessions include before and after work hours, and Saturday mornings. Each class is run by a clinical pilates trained physiotherapist to ensure the appropriate exercises are performed in a safe manner.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I wear?
Please wear comfortable non-restrictive clothing. For hygiene and safety reasons we require that all clients wear socks on the equipment. We recommend non-slip grip socks, which are available for purchase at our reception desk.

Do I need to have an assessment if I’ve done pilates before?
Yes. Even if you have previously done clinical pilates we require all clients undergo an assessment before starting clinical pilates with us. We provide individually tailored programs, so we need to be sure that the exercises we are prescribing are the most appropriate for your condition.

Do I need to have an injury to do clinical pilates?
No. As we personalise every program, we can tailor the program for a range of non-injury related needs, such as fitness, postural correction, pre and post natal exercise and injury prevention.

Do I have to join a class?
No. Some people prefer to attend individual clinical pilates sessions rather than group classes.

Can I claim clinical pilates on my private health insurance?
Yes. If you are covered for physiotherapy by your private health insurance you will also be able to claim your clinical pilates session, as a physiotherapist runs the sessions.