While you may not think about a connection between physical therapy and Pilates, the increasing number of Pilates-based physical therapists says otherwise.
Pilates-based physical therapists take their movement-based training and apply their clinical expertise to it to help athletes (and everybody, really) move with more efficiency.
As more athletes are taking advantage of the benefits of Pilates-based physical therapy, so too has the number of men attending Pilates classes.
How Pilates Benefits Athletes
Pilates focuses on working the muscles from the inside out. In this way, the deepest layers of muscles in the torso are trained to protect the lower back while allowing the body to perform movements with more ease and fluidity. This is achieved by performing controlled movements and by paying attention to the mind-body connection.
The attention to the core, proper alignment, and efficient movement patterns that Pilates offers through various exercises, with or without specialized equipment, is a natural carryover for an athlete.
Athletes benefit from Pilates because it offers a challenging workout without impact or excessive weight bearing. Unlike other strength training regimens traditionally designed for athletes, Pilates focuses on recruiting the deep stabilizing muscles of the body to improve biomechanical efficiency and muscular balance.
There is also the added benefit of increasing proprioceptive awareness, a competitive skill that elite athletes use to their advantage.
And while there are certainly plenty of female athletes benefit from Pilates, this newer push toward Pilates-based physical therapy for athletes has increased the number of men subsequently attending Pilates classes once they complete therapy.
How Pilates-Based Physical Therapy Works
A Pilates-based physical therapist’s job is to remove the physical roadblocks (such as lack of coordination or foundational strength) that are keeping clients from moving efficiently. They possess the tools to diagnose and help heal complex injuries by looking at movement through a clinical lens to anticipate where a patient’s body might be vulnerable, or the joints may compensate.
Such insight enables therapists to safely push their clients’ strength, endurance, and balance without running the risk of injuries. Using their Pilates expertise, they then integrate a method for rebuilding the foundation to set up athletes for successful, long-term movement.
In a nutshell, Pilates-based physical therapy bridges the gap between rehab and real-world performance. It’s a nontraditional approach to rehabilitation that focuses on movement reeducation, functional training, and the integration of mind and body. It allows for a smooth progression from rehabilitation to getting back into the game while empowering athletes to take charge of their own recovery.
Discover the Benefits of Pilates-Based Physical Therapy!
If you’re an injured athlete, you could be taking advantage of Pilates-based physical therapy. Curious? Contact us today to find out more.
We provide manual treatments, including joint, soft-tissue, and neural mobilization as well as muscular re-education in the Pilates and GYROTONIC® movement environments.
Our highly skilled Pilates-based physical therapist will meet with you to discuss your goals and provide a continuum of care to get you back on your feet!