Keywords
Assistive Movement.
Dynamic Stabilization.
Functional Re-education.
Specialized Equipment.
Expert Training.

“Pilates Rehabilitation allows movement early in the rehabilitation process by providing needed assistance through the use of specialized equipment that use springs and gravity to provide safe successful movement.”

Pilates Rehabilitation
In particular, Pilates is used to rehabilitate spine problems. It strengthens, lengthens, and balances spinal musculature, thereby aligning and decompressing injured vertebrae. This decompression stimulates healthy circulation to the damaged spinal tissue, helping to relieve nerve and disc pressure. The pelvic and spinal stabilization work used in Pilates also prepares the body to rehabilitate other weak or damaged areas more effectively.

Other Conditions Helped by Rehabilitation Pilates
At Brookdale Health, we have had great results utilizing the Pilates method on a number of patients. In addition to disc and other spine related problems, Pilates has helped patients suffering from whiplash complications and car accidents, knee, shoulder cuff and hip injuries, chronic fatigue syndrome, spina bifida, stroke, TMJ, and more. Individuals who are preparing for or recovering from pregnancies or surgeries also have found the Pilates method effective in shortening the total length of time necessary to complete rehabilitation.

Equipment
We primarily utilize these three pieces of equipment: Trapeze Table, Combo Chair, The Reformer.

Health Club Mat Program vs Pilates Rehabilitation
Pilates can be a rehabilitation or a fitness program. Most local health clubs offer Pilates mat fitness classes. Mat classes are for healthy individuals and are too advanced for people with injuries. Most Physical Therapists receive training during a two-day weekend course and learn only the mat program – the fitness mat program is the goal for patients AFTER the rehabilitation program is completed.

After a significant motor vehicle accident or other injury, rehabilitation is required to bring the patient back to their pre-accident strength and flexibility levels. Injured muscles are inflamed, painful and often result in restricted range of motion. Rehabilitative physical therapy needs to accommodate the patient’s injury-induced limitations. Pilates offers excellent equipment and techniques to facilitate this process. The Pilates pulley and weights system helps strengthen muscles in a way that’s less stressful than performing the same exercises without the assistance of the Pilates equipment.

A few recommended training programs are recognized by the American Council on Exercise (ACE). Brookdale Health staff have completed Pilates Rehabilitation training and are well-qualified to individualize a Pilates rehabilitation program for each patient. We have excellent outcomes using the knowledge and training of our Physical Therapists and the benefits of our advanced Pilates equipment.

The History
The Pilates method is a system of movement and therapeutic exercise. It was developed over a span of 60 years by German born athlete and physical therapy pioneer, Joseph H. Pilates.

The Function and Benefits
Utilizing specialized equipment designed by Joseph Pilates, the method works by toning muscles and balancing muscular force at the joint level. It stimulates circulation through muscular flexibility, joint range of motion and proper musculoskeletal alignment. In addition, it promotes new neuromuscular patterns, heightened body awareness, and increasingly precise coordination. All of these things combine to help prevent future re-injury and reduce or alleviate chronic pain altogether.

Brookdale Health has been providing rehabilitative health care service to the metro and surrounding area for 24 years and is a leader in Pilates rehabilitation in Minnesota. Our Physical Therapy staff is trained by national experts. Our doctors and physical therapists specialize in auto accident injury rehabilitation. Contact us at 763.561.4045 to schedule a complimentary informational power-point presentation and/or a Pilates demonstration at our clinic.