Reformer Pilates is an excellent tool for both injury prevention and rehabilitation. It can also be very useful for “prehabilitation” before an operation. Indeed Joseph Pilates invented his contrology system, later called Pilates, as a means of rehabilitation for hospital patients on the Isle of Man, where he was interned during the first world war. It is said that the earliest version of the Reformer was improvised by Joseph using hospital beds. After he emigrated to the United States many of the early clients at his New York gym used Pilates’ system to help their recovery from dance injuries.

Reformer Versatility

The Reformer is very versatile when it comes to rehab work. For example there are exercises where you can use your body and arms, but not put weight on an injured foot. It is low impact and relies on resistance. The moving carriage, springs and straps can be adjusted to make exercises easier or harder, activating and strengthening important muscle groups. A footballer who has injured say their anterior cruciate ligament can avoid putting too much stress on their knee in rehab work, working on strengthening the muscles around the hip and thighs such as the quadriceps, glutes and hamstrings.

After injury many people lose confidence and worry about when they can return to full impact sports or hobbies. Pilates can help by starting with slow controlled movements and then move on to high impact exercises, preparing gradually for a return to full action.

Operation Prehabilitation

Pilates can also be useful before an operation when it is used as prehabilitation. Due to its low impact prehab Pilates, you can use prehab Pilates to maintain your existing range of movement and improve strength before having surgery. Some pre-emptive Pilates can help patients get out of hospital quicker, reduce pain and the risk of complications and get them walking quicker after, say, a knee or hip operation. Clients need to work within pain boundaries, but even basic exercises such as sit to stand, step-ups and quad sets can improve resilience. Reformer work can be even better tailored to the user’s particular needs.

Sound prehab work can help prevent muscle loss while in bed, improve cardiovascular fitness and leave your body better equipped to heal. Surgery is obviously stressful and mental health might also improve through concentrating on breathing and de-stressing thanks to regular exercise.

Many physios now recommend Pilates before surgery. They emphasise that it helps to strengthen the tissues around joints so mobility will come back more quickly. With its emphasis on core strength and balance Pilates will also make moving around on crutches easier and reduce the risk of falls.

Ingrained Habits

After an injury the body can often develop compensatory movements such as a limp or not putting weight on a particular area. These habits can become ingrained so Pilates exercises can help with alignment and to restore normal movement. While getting those core muscles firing again will mean a quicker return to old hobbies and sporting activities. Pilates is a great tool for both preparing for and recovering from injury or surgery.

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The Pilates Central Team