Pilates and Injury

Many people ask if they can do Pilates when they have an injury or specific ache or pain. Depending on the problem, the answer is often yes. Of course, individuals must first be cleared to exercise by their physician or other medical professional prior to beginning a Pilates workout program. I also want to be clear that Pilates is not a form of physical therapy. It is an exercise program. That said, Pilates can often be used in conjunction with, or as a great next step after completing, a physical therapy program.

Pilates provides an opportunity to work the body out in a balanced approach. Back when Joseph Pilates was teaching his method of Contrology (what Pilates was called before it was called Pilates), he often trained people who wanted to be “fixed.” Many of these students were injured dancers who were sent to his studio in NYC to rehabilitate. His idea was to work the entire body out except the part that was hurt or injured and in doing so, that would balance out the imbalances. Joe also put a big emphasis on breathing. He believed that proper, efficient breathing (in and out through the nose), as well as deep breathing, could help develop and maintain connections to the abdominals and support movements of the body.

The Pilates method of exercise consists of hundreds of exercises on a variety of apparatus or equipment. Thus, within the system there are many options. A highly trained and specialized Pilates professional will be able to pick and choose from this broad system and guide an individual through exercises that are appropriate. The emphasis is on what one can do, not on what one cannot do. If we avoid the injured area and focus on the rest of the body, we can build strength and stability in the body to help support the area with an injury or limitations.

In his book Return to Life Through Contrology, Joseph Pilates discussed how change happens through movement and movement heals. He said, “Contrology develops the body uniformly, corrects wrong postures, restores physical vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit.” A safe Pilates practice can often lead to decreased pain and increased mobility.

Questions about your specific situation? Please reach out to me and I’d be happy to discuss whether Pilates is an option for you. I work to create a personalized workout for wherever you are in your health and fitness journey. That is the beauty of Pilates – it really is customizable for each unique person. Pilates meets you where you are and can take your mind and your body to a whole new level.