What is Clinical Pilates?
Clinical Pilates is a tailored exercise approach that focuses on an individual’s injuries and physical needs to help them with healing and recovery.
Unlike Pilates, which is generally conducted in a group setting with a fitness instructor, Clinical Pilates is supervised by an experienced physiotherapist.
This physiotherapist will have extensive training and knowledge about musculoskeletal anatomy, movement and rehabilitation.
What happens during a HBF Physio Clinical Pilates session?
At your first Clinical Pilates session, one of our experienced HBF physiotherapists will conduct a thorough, personalised assessment. They’ll evaluate your physical condition, limitations, medical history and any potential injury risks.
Your physiotherapist will then create a Clinical Pilates program for you and monitor your progress to make sure you achieve your goals and improve your movement.
Who could benefit from Clinical Pilates?
Clinical Pilates is personalised and adaptable making it suitable for almost everyone, regardless of age or fitness level.
People who could benefit include:
- Individuals recovering from injuries
- Individuals living with chronic pain
- Pregnant and postpartum individuals
- Athletes and fitness enthusiasts
- Seniors
- Anyone looking to improve posture, mobility or flexibility
What are the benefits of Clinical Pilates?
Improved posture
Posture refers to the way we hold our bodies while standing, sitting or lying down. Poor posture can cause back pain, neck pain and other discomfort.
Clinical Pilates helps improve posture and relieve pain by increasing flexibility in the spine, scapular and joints. It also focuses on strengthening the shoulders, lower back and abdominal muscles that support the spine.
Increased flexibility and strength
Clinical Pilates can improve flexibility and mobility and increase strength.
Targeted exercises designed to stretch joints and muscles can help to improve range of motion and effectively reduce stiffness, tension and discomfort.
Being more flexible can help you perform better physically and lower your chances of getting injured.
Better mental health
Clinical Pilates can do wonders for your mental health. The mix of deep, controlled breathing and exercise helps release endorphins, which can help ease anxiety[i] and depression.
It’s also great for improving focus, boosting confidence and helping you sleep better[ii].
Increased sports performance
Clinical Pilates is a great addition to your sports training routine as it helps improve your performance[iii] and movement.
Exercises can help to fix imbalances from repetitive motions and target deep stabiliser muscles to build strength and stability.
It also helps with tight muscles, weaknesses or overused areas and reduces your risk of injury.
Improved pre or post natal care
Clinical Pilates can be tailored to suit women who are pregnant to help manage pregnancy-related symptoms like pelvic pain, back pain and poor posture.
Our physiotherapists can prescribe certain Clinical Pilates exercises that can help to strengthen core muscles and improve pelvic floor function, as well as assist with post-partum recovery.
Recovery support from an injury or surgery
Clinical Pilates is a gentle yet effective way to manage chronic pain and support recovery after an injury.
Targeted exercises can help rebuild strength, improve balance and regain motor control. This is particularly beneficial for those recovering from surgeries like joint replacements, spinal procedures, or shoulder, knee, and ankle reconstructions
Is Clinical Pilates covered by private health insurance?
Our Clinical Pilates sessions are individualised and an extension of a one-on-one physiotherapy consult, where an individualised program is designed and supervised based on an initial assessment and a follow up assessment at each session. Standard physiotherapy (extras cover) rebates apply.
Whether you’re an HBF member, with another health fund or don’t hold health cover, we are here to help keep you moving with Clinical Pilates.
Make a booking for an initial Clinical Pilates appointment at one of our HBF Physio clinics across Perth.
References
[i] Ju M, Zhang Z, Tao X, Lin Y, Gao L, Yu W. The impact of Pilates exercise for depression symptoms in female patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2023 Oct 13. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10578749/
[ii] Chen Z, Ye X, Shen Z, Chen G, Chen W, He T, Xu X. Effect of Pilates on Sleep Quality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Front Neurol. 2020 Mar 24. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7105773/
[iii] Finatto P, Silva ESD, Okamura AB, Almada BP, Oliveira HB, Peyre´-Tartaruga LA (2018) Pilates training improves 5-km run performance by changing metabolic cost and muscle activity in trained runners. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5862462/pdf/pone.0194057.pdf
