The Benefits of Pilates

We all know that participating in regular exercise provides numerous benefits from reducing the risk of developing diabetes to improving strength and mobility. With a plethora of exercise programs to choose from, why would one choose Pilates?

Pilates works from muscles deeper within the body toward the outside muscle groups. By working from the inside out, you develop a greater understanding of the body. Smaller muscle groups come into use, and you begin to discover muscles you never knew you had. The Pilates method also helps you develop a control that is useful for performing a range of movements- from the simplest, such as walking up a flight of stairs, to the most complex, such as lifting an awkward load from a difficult position without straining your back, shoulders or other muscles.

Pilates is a mind-body centering technique that emphasizes the importance of beginning movement to form a central core of stability.  Pilates is a safe, no-impact exercise routine that stretches and strengthens all the major muscle groups in a logical sequence, without neglecting the smaller, weaker muscles. It is taught in two categories, matwork and machine based work. Both are taught in many formats and are tailor-made for individuals following an assessment. Matwork consists of 34 original Pilates exercises performed on the “mat” that are designed to promote core stability, flexibility, endurance, postural and body awareness and to correct muscle imbalances. Machine based Pilates takes the concepts of matwork into spring loaded resistance machines.  

Pilates is based on the following eight principles:

1. Breathing
2. Concentration
3. Control
4.  Centering
5.  Precision
6. Flow
7. Integrated isolation
8. Routine/Repetition

The repertoire of APPI Pilates exercises focuses to improve spinal mobility, flexibility of the key trunk and lower limb muscles groups, body awareness and postural awareness.  Thus allowing me to incorporate Pilates as a form of physical therapy for patients that I am seeing whom suffer back and neck pain.   Roughly five years ago I started my Pilates journey by taking classes and courses to educate myself about the process. Pilates is more than an exercise routine for me. For more information about the APPI Pilates method, visit their website: http://www.ausphysio.com/

Nicole Feinauer, PTA

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Did you know that NHNSI offers its own diagnostic imaging services? At NHNSI we pride ourselves on offering cutting-edge technology and compassionate care for patients with back, neck , orthopeadic , and neurosurgical conditions. With healthcare costs rising patients are often faced with weighing in their finances before making healthcare decisions. We have created an advanced MRI scanning facility which provides both exceptional patient centered care with lower pricing.

Its that time of year again, time to break out the golf clubs and start dusting them off. If you are looking to get prepared for the upcoming golf season check out NHNSI’s golf program. Its a golf program designed to increase an individual's fitness level, assess body mechanics and help to strengthen golfers' overall performance. Our goal is help increase your distance and power, minimize the chance of injury and improve accuracy. The program helps focus on five cores areas: flexibility/mobility, balance, strength, stabilization, and endurance.
NHNSI's very own Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) certified Physical Therapist,Matthew Harrison, will work with you on an individual basis and determine what you can do to increase your execution on the golf course. Working with a team of musculoskeletal experts allows Matthew to utilize the knowledge of our providers along with his knowledge as a Physical Therapist to give you the best golf performance recovery experience.