Pilates Ortho-Rehab…not just Yoga and Stretches
When I'm asked what I do, I generally don't know how to fully encompass my career, and most people don't actually understand it when I answer. Pilates instructor, Master's in Kinesiology, Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Corrective Exercise, BFA in Dance Performance….
Lots of words people may understand in part but not fully. I can say I'm a Pilates instructor, but I don't consider myself classical, yet I also don't consider myself in the trendy pop-pilates style either. I'm not a physical therapist, but I work with PTs and I use Pilates as the foundation to work with clients' pain and post-rehabilitative and chronic injuries.
Basically, what all this means is I study movement. I understand how to move, and I know how to help others move better.
When a new acquaintance hears I work with Pilates, they'll ask about fitness and classes. If they understand that I do something with injuries, they'll usually bring up a specific injury they are dealing with, yet they'll hesitate to ask a question since they don't want to make me work "off the clock". But really, if someone has questions or is in pain and I can lend some advice, I'm never off work. I enjoy discussing movement ideas, fitness, physical therapy, and injury prevention, so I don't mind it when I'm asked a question about those at an event or party. I even tend to remember a person's injury story more readily than a name at first, and if I can help I like to try.
Most people think Pilates is "something like yoga", and they think yoga is a bunch of stretches and breathing. While both are partly true, I do much more than count reps and tell people to stretch. I do give some stretches of course, but I also teach self manipulations, soft-tissue mobilizations, core strengthening, full-body integration, and body mechanics for work and other activities. I always love having the knowledge and skillset to provide some pain relief and corrective exercise advice to reduce injury and increase vitality and wellness. Movement is medicine, and most injuries will benefit from some level of activity. It's just important to work with a movement professional to properly guide through the injury.
My colleagues who are orthopedic surgeons, nurses, and family medicine doctors all have useful information about pain and injuries, but often they can't provide immediate change. With what I do I see people come into my studio in some level of pain or discomfort and leave standing taller with a smile on their faces. My work can provide meaningful, immediate change. It does take time and consistent practice to make lasting change, but with each session, I see the benefits and relief I can provide someone.
Too often a client will think they have to take some pain medication, or immediately have surgery, and they'll schedule a procedure without scheduling the prehab and rehab, thinking just the surgery will make the difference. Many orthopedic injuries experience great relief simply from corrective exercise and physical therapy. We offer benefits without the negative side effects.
So why do people not understand what Pilates is, or what physical therapy can truly do? Pilates has become quite popularized over the past decade, but the understanding of the benefits of Pilates as orthopedic rehabilitation is not as well known. It may help if specialized Pilates instructors could be categorized as allied health professionals similar to massage therapists. I also have to be more aware of how I market myself in networking events, providing understanding and awareness within my own circles of influence, and hopefully, over time we can have more cross-disciplinary collaboration and validation in the field. What are some other ways we can support our strengths and passions and make a difference in the health and wellness field?
