(303) 472-6743

When physical therapy is prescribed for recovery after injury or surgery,
adding Pilates to your recovery regimen will get you feeling and moving better
quicker.

Pilates’s roots are in rehabilitation.

When Joseph Pilates, the namesake and creator of the discipline, was a prisoner
of war in World War I, he shared his exercise program with other prisoners,
including those confined to hospital beds. Later, when Pilates came to America,
he and his wife Clara worked with dancers, boxers, and individuals recovering from injuries.

Today, the practice is not only a popular way to prevent injuries from happening
in the first place because of its focus on balance, stability and mobility, but it’s an
incredible complement to physical therapy.

What is physical therapy?

Physical therapy is prescribed to patients after injury or surgery to ease pain and
help them move better. Physical therapists (PTs) are licensed health professionals.

Patients may have physical therapy to:
 Prevent surgery
 Rehab after accidents, surgery, strokes or other diseases
 Manage a chronic illness
 Learn to use assistive devices like a cane, walker or prosthetic

Before treatment begins, PTs will assess how you move around, climb steps,
balance, posture and heart rate while active. Then, based on your treatment
goals, they will create a treatment plan.

Why Pilates is a perfect complement to physical therapy?

While Pilates is ideal as a preventative practice to keep you injury free, it’s also
very helpful after surgery or injury to help you get back to moving and feeling
well.

After assessing your movement patterns and compensations, Pilates instructors
will make the movement experience appropriate to each client’s injury, goals and
body.

Since Pilates meets you wherever you are in your recovery journey, it’s accessible
regardless of your physical therapy needs. The props and apparatus used in a
Pilates session are intended to support and facilitate movement – an effective
way for patients to safely learn how to move optimally.

As recovery progresses, Pilates movements can be tailored to fit your new
abilities. This flexibility allows Pilates to continue to serve your recovery needs
during physical therapy and after it ends.

Combining physical therapy and Pilates is a very effective healing strategy that
can help you move, feel and live well. Please call or text us at 303-472-6743 to
discuss your goals and learn how Pilates can support your recovery.