Stages of Rehabilitation for back injuries

This is a general guide to what you can expect when you're rehabilitating from a back injury. Specifics may vary for each individual. Talk with your Clinical Pilates instructor for a more accurate idea of you individual progression.

Stage 1: Reducing pain and improving stability for everyday tasks.

(Average 5-7 Individual sessions)

We'll assess your posture, your symptoms and your medical history, and consult with your diagnosing physiotherapist, osteopath, chiroprator or orthopaedic surgeon to develop a program that will get you results, safely and quickly.

Working with the 3-fold approach outlined here, you'll learn how to reduce your own pain quickly and safely with targeted micro-stretches, trigger-point self-release, visualisation and breathing exercises. You'll begin to improve your posture, so that your structure is supported more effectively and easily, thus reducing the strain on your injury. You'll begin to safely strengthen your core and stabilise your spine with an individualised, tailored program of exercises targeted to your specific needs. We'll train you to be extremely precise with your technique, and to know exactly where your limits are. Your sessions will be fun, focussed and frank. Ask us why you'll even enjoy doing your homework!

By the end of Stage 1 of the Breathe Clinical Pilates program most people are able to do their everyday activities, such as cooking, walking, sitting, gardening etc pain-free.

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Stage 2: Increasing strength, stability and resilience to allow healing.

( Average 12-15 weekly Studio Pilates sessions)

During Stage 2 of the Breathe Clinical Pilates program, you'll transition from individual sessions to a small group Studio Pilates class, sharing your instructor with up to 3 other people. You'll continue to work on you individualised program of tailored exercises, as you gradually consolidate and increase your early gains, avoiding aggravation and allowing your underlying injury to continue to heal.

During Stage 2 you'll notice your resilience increase, so that you'll be able to tolerate longer periods of sitting, gardening etc, and you'll notice that you're starting to feel stronger and more stable. We'll also begin to work towards any specific goal you may have such as returning to cycling, running, skiing etc.

By the end of Stage 2 of the Breathe Clinical Pilates program you can expect to be ready to begin gradually reintegrating things like running, cycling, bushwalking, salsa dancing etc back into your life.

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Stage 3: Toning & flexibility for ongoing health and wellbeing

(Ongoing weekly Studio Pilates supplemented by group Mat & Reformer Pilates classes)

After completing Stage 2 you'll be ready to start working towards your non-injury related goals, like toning your abs, getting back into martial arts, taking up sky-diving, trekking the himalayas or whatever you're working towards. We'll help you ensure you do these things happily, healthily and pain-free by checking in with you during your weekly Studio Pilates session, and tailoring your strengthening and flexibility exercises to meet your goals. You can safely use the group Mat Pilates and Reformer Pilates classes to fast-track your progress at this stage.

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