Pilates and Physical Therapy
I have never met anyone who couldn’t benefit from Pilates. From my own experience with Pilates as a young dancer to using Pilates with my injured older patients in my work as a physical therapist, there are endless possibilities for Pilates to help everyone.
I first fell in love with Pilates in college. I was a BFA Dance Performance and Choreography major so was dancing for hours each and every day. Pilates was the perfect cross training supplement to improve strength and technique without overtaxing my constantly sore and overworked body. It was great having this workout when I was healthy but it saved me when I was injured. I had to take months off of dance due to various injuries and health conditions but Pilates was the one style of movement that could always be adapted to keep my body moving despite what health issues were going on.
When my dancer injuries sidelined a potential professional dance performance career, Pilates was the perfect direction to pivot in. After transitioning the focus of my studies and getting a degree in Dance Science, I began teaching Pilates classes. When I made the decision to get my Doctorate in Physical Therapy, I knew Pilates would always need to remain a focus of my career and how I work with patients.
I use Pilates movements daily when working with injured athletes.
Pilates is a practice of controlled movements that aim to strengthen, while focusing on posture, alignment, flexibility, body awareness, and breath. It is a method originally developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920’s. The quality and precision of movement is prioritized over the quantity of repetitions. The six foundational principles of Pilates are concentration, control, centering, breathing, flow, and precision. It is the perfect supplement to sport or other forms of exercise. It can help improve mobility, stability, and efficiency in other aspects of your physical lifestyle.
I firmly believe every person, young or old, elite athlete or someone breaking into a new movement routine, can benefit from incorporating Pilates in to their weekly routine!
Interested in seeing how the combination of physical therapy and Pilates can help you? Schedule a free 20 minute phone consultation with Dr. Bridget today!