Pilates Applications for Health Conditions: programs and perspectives
Finally, after 7 plus years working as a writer and editor along with Elizabeth Larkam this two volume book is released! I wrote this article for Brett Miller’s online newsletter “Pilates Intel”.
There is little debate that Pilates helps heal people in so many ways. We often hear from new clients “Pilates is my last attempt of addressing XXX.” As Pilates teachers, we know Pilates works to help alleviate discomfort and potentially change health outcomes. Twenty first century ailments did not exist during Mr. Pilates time, such as long covid or joint replacements. Science and medical technology advanced exponentially since his time. We, as Pilates teachers, are faced with challenges ranging not only from locomotor conditions, as hip replacements but multisystem conditions such as multiple sclerosis. Today, people are living longer with dis-ease and/or physical limitations thanks to modern science and medicine.
Pilates teacher trainings do not include lessons on what is appropriate programing and how to progress someone living with complicated health conditions. The Pilates teacher is left with searching out answers and adapting what they know during a session. Pilates based research has its limitations. There are so many variables to the movement: how the movement is performed and the intent and purpose of the sequencing. What works for one person may not meet the needs of another with the same condition. The task of finding answers becomes daunting.
In 2018, Handspring Publishers approached Elizabeth Larkam and me to organize a book, ‘Pilates Applications for Health Conditions’, based on Pilates research and health conditions. We recruited 26 Pilates teachers who have expertise and experience in specific health conditions to contribute a chapter. Every contributor followed the same protocol, a case report format style. The chapters are designed with condition description, client health history interview, pre and post assessment and twelve sessions. Each chapter exemplifies how to tailor movement practices to specific situations, while providing actionable information to movement and health practitioners in clinical practice, studios, home practice and online sessions.
The first step to understand a condition is learning about the health condition, the causes, and symptoms. After understanding the condition, the focus can be directed toward the individual. Performing an interview of the person’s health history is important information gathering. The client’s story, possible multiple impairments and past traumas complicate their health. There is no one recipe for a health condition. The person’s experience is unique to their life.
In ‘Pilates Applications for Health Conditions’, the authors performed the same assessment based on gait. The pre and post observations were made from the feet through the head determining movement restrictions and how it changed after the twelve sessions. Gait is a reflection of a person’s wellbeing. It has been documented that a change in someone’s gait pattern is an early indication of a potential health concern.
In my chapter on Multiple Sclerosis, the subject used a device to assist in dorsi flexion of her left foot and she walked with canes. There were many findings during her gait assessment. A major consideration was found in the seated thoracic assessment test. Her weight was not distributed equally on the ischial tuberosities, more on her right, and her thorax rested to the right (a right translation). She was restricted in right thoracic rotation and unable to shift her weight to the left. This made sense since her weakness was mainly on her left side, her left leg and arm.
The subject’s home gym included a Universal Reformer. Her desire was to learn a program that she could maintain at home. Her sessions were both a non-equipment home mat-based program and on the Universal Reformer. As you will see in this chapter, I followed a traditional Universal Reformer format. I adapted the Rowing Back Series to include a breakdown of three movements to address the findings in the Seated Thoracic assessment. One was sitting on an air disc where she would have sensory input into her ischial tuberosities sinking into the left ischial. This would bring her torso more upright and midline. Second step, she would breathe into her left thoracic, (think of Eve Gentry’s one lung breathing), to create the left thoracic translation. Third, to row with the right arm only rotating the thorax to the right. This variation of the Rowing Back greatly improved her torso organization, thoracic rotation during gait and provided better balance.
The first volume of this pioneering book examines multi-system health conditions, including Ehlers-Danlos, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, Lyme Disease and Long COVID, illustrating in detail how movement sequences improve gait, balance, efficiency, and quality of life. The second volume examines locomotor system health conditions, including scoliosis, kyphosis, hip joint dysfunction, diastasis recti abdominis, and congenital muscular torticollis among others.
Adaptation is key to movement organization. Not only adapting a movement but observing how the human body adapts to stimulus and rights itself toward better movement and healing. ‘Pilates Applications for Health Conditions’ is full of possibilities to use the Pilates knowledge and movement to help people live well with their condition and heal.
Link for the book.
https://us.singingdragon.com/products/pilates-applications-for-health-conditions-twovolume-set