What is Clinical Pilates?
Clinical Pilates is a form of Pilates that is often used in conjunction with physiotherapy treatment. It’s primary focus is to help clients recover from muscle and joint injuries, or as part of rehabilitation after surgery. It does this by focusing on core strength, balance, mobility and movement control.
Clinical Pilates can be used while still having normal physio treatment, or it can be used as a form of exercise progression to continue building strength and movement control once your regular physio treatment has been completed. It is a safe and effective way to get back to exercise if you are concerned about how you can move forward with a long term injury. Many clients feel that it is a great way to gradually return to exercise in a safe, controlled, personalised and supervised environment. All our Clinical Pilates programs at Central Performance are personalised for each client, so the exercises are perfectly matched to each client’s ability, goals and target areas. Even in our small-group classes (max 4 clients), each client is closely supervised as they do their own individual program.
The Differences Between Pilates And Clinical Pilates
| Clinical Pilates | General Pilates |
| – Used for client-specific treatment post injury or surgery – Personalised programs for specific injuries and physical needs – Clients do individualised programs even in group sessions – Clinical assessment by physiotherapist to tailor a program with targeted exercises | – Caters for general public and does not concentrate on a specific injury or client goals – Aimed at improving overall fitness and health, rather than a particular injury, muscle group or body part – Everyone does the same exercises in group sessions – Personalisation of exercises is not available in group sessions. |
What’s Best – Pilates Or Clinical Pilates?
This is not really a fair question, because the answer is “it really depends on what you personally need”! Normal Pilates is great for many people. It builds strength and mobility, is fun and social, can include a wide variety of exercises to keep things interesting, and is simply a type of exercise that many people really enjoy. Plus there a lots of great Pilates instructors out there that aren’t physios or exercise physiologists. So if you really don’t have any specific injuries or issues you want to focus on or recover from, you don’t want or need much supervision, and you don’t have to be careful when training around an injury, then regular Pilates can be a great option for you.
However, Clinical Pilates is a better option if you would like a personalised program to work on specific goals or injuries, feel like you want or need closer supervision, have to be careful working around an injury, or don’t have confidence in doing new exercises that you’re not familiar with.
| Clinical Pilates | General Pilates |
| – Used for client-specific treatment post injury or surgery – Personalised programs for specific injuries and physical needs – Clients do individualised programs even in small-group sessions – Clinical assessment by physiotherapist to tailor a program with targeted exercises | – Caters for general public and does not concentrate on a specific injury or client goals – Aimed at improving overall fitness and health, rather than a particular injury, muscle group or body part – Everyone does the same exercises in group sessions, and the groups are usually much bigger – Personalisation of exercises is not available in group sessions. |
Is Clinical Pilates The Same As Physio Pilates?
Yes, Clinical Pilates is sometimes called Physio Pilates. However, Clinical Pilates can also be instructed by Accredited Exercise Physiologists who also have specific training in Clinical Pilates. At Central Performance we have both physios and exercise physiologists who are qualified Clinical Pilates instructors.
Clinical Pilates At Central Performance
We see our Clinical Pilates program as a very important and versatile part of the exercise services we provide. Many clients use it to help them achieve both rehab as well as overall fitness goals. Sessions can be tailored to be low-intensity and focussed on a particular injury or body part initially, then as you improve the sessions can be made harder, more high-intensity and whole-body to improve your overall strength and fitness. However, even in the later stages and in our small-group sessions, your program is still personalised so that you will be doing a different program to others in the class. This is a key difference between our Clinical Pilates program and a general Pilates program, for example in a gym or larger Pilates studio.
Beginning Your Clinical Pilates Program
The first step in your Clinical Pilates journey is to have an initial assessment. This session is where you get to meet one of our instructors, and we get to know you and what you are looking for in your Pilates program. It includes;
History Taking: where we find out about any recent or previous injuries you may have had, as well as any other health concerns that are relevant
Goal Setting: so we know why have joined our Clinical Pilates program, and how we can tailor your program to focus on the things that really matter to you
A Physical Assessment: this includes Pilates-specific testing as well other overall physical tests, for example flexibility. This helps your instructor to identify your strengths and weaknesses, movement restrictions, plus also determine any movement biases (flexion/extension, left/right) that you have. This further helps us tailor your program to be as effective as possible for you.
Introduction To Pilates Equipment: this is where the fun starts! You will have a chance to try some of the equipment to experience what Pilates exercise feels like, and if you have done Pilates previously we will get to know how comfortable you already are with the equipment.
Your Initial One-on-One Sessions (Quickstart Program)
Once you have done your initial assessment you will have a minimum of 3 one-on-one (private) sessions. In these 45-minute sessions you will learn the basics of Pilates, how to use the equipment, and become familiar with your personalised program. We also adjust your program to make sure it is matched perfectly for you, and fine-tune your technique so that you are really comfortable and confident with how to do the exercises.
Flexible Pilates Program Options To Suit You
Once you have done your initial assessment and Quickstart one-on-one sessions, you can choose to continue with private (one-on-one) or small-group sessions.
Private Sessions: if you would like to continue with private sessions then you can book in with any of our instructors at a time that works for you. This gives you the greatest flexibility of session times. It works well for people who feel they want or need closer supervision, or simply prefer private rather than group exercise.
Group Fitness Membership: if you would prefer moving to small-group Clinical Pilates sessions, then our Group Fitness Membership will work for you. Clinical Pilates group sessions are limited to 4 clients per class, so you still receive close supervision and continue with your own program even in a group setting. These sessions are included in our group fitness program, plus you also have the option of attending other classes including Performance Boost for strength and conditioning, or our women-only HERo exercise classes. You can come to as many classes as you like every week, as your membership includes unlimited sessions. Click to see more details.
Can I Claim Rebates For Clinical Pilates Through My Health Fund?
Yes, you can claim health fund rebates for all private (1:1) Clinical Pilates sessions. This is because all sessions at central Performance are instructed by qualified physiotherapists or exercise physiologists. Your eligibility to claim, and the amount you can claim, will depend on your level of cover, so please check with your health fund.
You usually cannot claim health fund benefits for group classes, even though they are instructed by physios or exercise physiologists. However, some funds do cover some group fitness options, so its best to check with your fund for details about group Clinical Pilates.
Got A Question Or Like More Information?
If you have a question about Clinical Pilates or would like more information then we’re here to help. Click below to send us an enquiry, or feel free to call us on 9280 2322 for more information. If you’re not sure if Pilates is right for you then feel free to call us and speak to Sonja, our senior physiotherapist who manages our Clinical Pilates program.
Sonja Murphy – Senior Physio & Clinical Pilates Manager
Sonja is an experienced physiotherapist with advanced training in Clinical Pilates. She regularly includes Pilates exercise into her physio treatment sessions, as well as instructing many of our private and group Pilates sessions every week. Coming from an elite sporting background, which includes playing football on a scholarship in the USA through her university years, she really understands the role of correct exercise prescription and technique in rehabilitation as well as strength and fitness.
You can click below to email Sonja a question, or call us on 9280 2322 to speak to her for more information.
