Innovative Physio Pilates

Where the art of physicality meets the science

Clinical Pilates refers to a specific approach to Pilates. At Innovative Physio/Pilates you are initially assessed by a physiotherapist (Preparation for Pilates session) and your problem and goals are clearly understood. We assess all aspects of your movement then clinical reason the source of your symptoms and contributing factors, developing a treatment plan that is unique to you.
During the Preparation for Pilates session we use mirrors to observe your sitting, sit to stand and standing postures, focusing on how you recruit your back, abdominal, scapula and lower limb muscles. The real-time ultrasound is a valuable tool that maybe used initially to examine how the deep stabilising muscles of the spine are functioning. This assessment screens if the core muscles of the spine or what we now refer to as abdominal cylinder or canister muscles of the trunk, are being recruited ideally to best support the spine. The real time ultrasound is also used if you have less than ideal movement patterns causing issues with your shoulders, neck, hips and knees. By viewing your postural stabilising or joint protective muscles on the screen and engaging them ideally for function is crucial in overcoming many musculoskeletal issues. Seeing your deep muscles work on the screen is called biofeedback which uses vision - most of us are powerful visual learners.
Why is it important?

In episodes of low back pain and pelvic girdle pain these deep stabilising muscles get inhibited and on the real time ultrasound we see poor timing, incorrect recruitment and muscular movement patterns that can exacerbate the back condition. Some people are aggravators constantly doing movement patterns that aggravate their symptoms unknowingly. Other people avoiders avoiding using that part of the body-overprotecting.

Ideally you want your core muscle working well. We refer to the core as the abdominal muscle canister which includes the deep abdominal muscles, pelvic floor muscles, deep lower back muscles (multifidis) and diaphragm. The four parts of the abdominal canister work synergistically together connected via strong fascia (connective tissue) to support the spine. This is referred to lumbar pelvic stability in the literature and often spoken of as neutral spine or the core.

The deep abdominal muscle surrounds the trunk as a muscular-fascial support acting as a dynamic back brace. The pelvic floor muscles not only contribute to back support they also regulate bladder and bowel control, support the pelvic organs and play an important role in sexual function. These muscles work in unison with the diaphragm to provide dynamic stability to the spine.

Scientific research has shown that during an episode of low back, pelvic girdle pain these important deep stabilising muscles can switch off, waste away or become over active long after the pain has settled. They do not automatically return to ideal function on resolution of pain. This is why it is vital after an episode of low back pain and or pelvic girdle pain that your deep stabilising muscles are assessed. The real time ultrasound is a fantastic biofeedback tool to help you see and understand how these muscles work to prevent reoccurrence of low back pain and pelvic girdle pain and possible spinal degeneration over time.
Pilates focuses on and can improve:

Awareness of body
Breath control
Balance
Co-ordination
Centring - use of deep stabilising muscles
Endurance
Expend less energy on more efficient movement
Functional strength and flexibility
Posture
Precision movement
Retrains poor movement patterns
Relaxation
Stamina

Our aim is to help you:

Manage your condition
Support your physical journey
Optimize your health
Stay pain free

We offer individual and group classes run by our Pilates trained Physiotherapists and Clinical Pilates Practitioner. We work as a team (that includes you) to improve your physical function and eliminate your pain.
We will tailor a program that suits your needs and goals, whether that is improving your everyday movement and posture or enhancing your athletic performance and reducing risk of injury.


Once you gain awareness of your body, you can progress Pilates with confidence, realising that movements you thought impossible are achievable. Build your body uniformly starting with your "core" (abdominal cylinder) providing the stable platform for free moving limbs.
Achieve great endurance of your skeletal stabilising muscles, and strength of your movement muscles. Pilates connects your brain to your body, enhancing and optimising movement.

Preparation for Pilates may involve using the Real Time Ultrasound to assess your deep muscles.
Physiotherapists use real-time ultrasound to examine how the deep stabilising muscles of the spine are functioning. This assessment screens if the core muscles of the spine or what we now refer to as abdominal cylinder or canister muscles of the trunk, are being recruited ideally to best support the spine.

What is involved?


A specially trained physiotherapist will measure the function, the hold time and overall contraction sequences between your muscles. This is performed in different positions and can be customised for each individual.
Real time ultrasound is safe, effective non-invasive and pain free. A small ultrasound head and water soluble gel are placed on various muscles and the images are viewed on a screen. Images can be recorded and measured for future comparison.
Who needs Real Time Ultrasound assessment?

Real time ultrasound is recommended for a wide range of conditions including:

Low back pain (acute, chronic or recurrent),
Pelvic girdle pain - sacroiliac joint pain or excess pelvic joint movement
Preparation for motherhood
Post-natal recovery
Prolapse signs and symptoms
Bladder dysfunction unwanted bladder leakage
Weak pelvic floor muscle contraction
Athletes/dancers/gymnasts
Computer posture symptoms
Thoracic pain
Neck pain
Shoulder pain
Hip pain
Knee pain
Foot pain
Pre and post spinal surgery
Post hip, knee replacement

Your Clinical Pilates exercise program is unique to you, and targeting the movement patterns that will assist in eliminating your symptoms. The physiotherapists and Pilates Practitioner will guide you to wake up the important postural stabilising muscles of the spine, "core muscles". Working these important postural stabilising muscles is the secret to prevent re-occurrence of musculoskeletal issues.

We offer individual and group classes run by our Pilates trained Physiotherapists and Pilates Practitioners. We work as a team (that includes you) to improve your physical function and eliminate your pain.