Clinical Pilates vs Commercial Pilates: Which is best for your health?
Are you considering Pilates to enhance your health and fitness but are unsure whether clinical Pilates or commercial Pilates is right for you? Whether you’re recovering from an injury, managing chronic pain or simply aiming to enhance overall fitness, selecting the best type of Pilates is key to achieving your wellness goals. In this blog, we’ll delve into the differences between clinical Pilates and commercial Pilates to help you determine which one aligns best with your health journey.
What is clinical Pilates?
Clinical Pilates is a specialised form of Pilates designed and adapted by physiotherapists to address specific rehabilitation needs and improve physical health (a term started by Craig philips of DMA and now adapted by many health professionals). Instead of focusing on general fitness, clinical Pilates classes tailor exercises to an individual's medical conditions, injuries or post-surgical recovery requirements.
This Pilates type emphasises core stability, muscle strength, flexibility, posture and functional movement, integrating therapeutic exercises with traditional Pilates principles. Clinical Pilates is often used in conjunction with other physiotherapy treatments to enhance recovery, reduce pain and prevent future injuries, making it a versatile and effective tool in physical rehabilitation and chronic pain management.
What is the difference between clinical Pilates and commercial Pilates?
The primary difference between clinical and commercial Pilates lies in their purpose and application. Clinical Pilates often incorporates a Wunda Chair, trap table, commercial and barrel. However, the exercises are tailored to the patient's unique requirements to enhance recovery, improve function and prevent injury.
Commercial Pilates, on the other hand, is a more generalised form of Pilates that uses the reformer machine – a bed-like frame with a sliding carriage, springs and pulleys – to perform a wide range of exercises aimed at improving overall fitness, strength, flexibility and body alignment. While commercial Pilates can be part of a clinical Pilates regimen, it is typically not specifically adapted to address medical issues unless guided by a clinical Pilates practitioner.
What form of Pilates do we recommend?
Determining the most effective form of Pilates between commercial and clinical Pilates depends on your specific needs and goals. Here’s a comparison to help you identify which is best for you:
Clinical Pilates
We recommend Clinical Pilates classes for individuals needing a customised, therapeutic approach to address specific medical needs. Physio clinical Pilates focuses on:
Therapeutic approach: Clinical Pilates is supervised by physiotherapists or trained instructors with a focus on rehabilitation and injury prevention. They undergo extra training and education in order to work with specialised clients, such as those with back pain or osteoporosis, or those seeking ACL rehabilitation or pre- and post-partum support.
Customisation: Tailored exercises to address specific health conditions such as back pain, post-surgical recovery, chronic pain or pelvic floor dysfunction. Intensity is adjusted based on the individual’s condition and recovery stage.
Safety: Emphasis on safe movement patterns and posture correction to alleviate pain and improve functional movement.
Benefits of clinical Pilates include:
Rehabilitation: Highly effective for recovering from injuries, surgeries or managing chronic conditions.
Improved wellbeing: Enhances overall mental and physical wellbeing by promoting better posture, reducing stress and increasing body awareness.
Pain management: Helps reduce pain and discomfort by addressing underlying muscular imbalances and promoting proper alignment.
Individualised care: Personalised exercises catered to your specific needs, ensuring targeted improvement in mobility, strength and flexibility.
Commercial Pilates
Commercial Pilates is renowned for its versatility and ability to provide a comprehensive full-body workout, making it most beneficial for those looking to enhance their general fitness and athletic performance. Commercial Pilates focuses on:
Fitness and conditioning: Utilises a reformer machine with adjustable resistance to enhance overall muscle strength, tone, flexibility and coordination.
Core strength: Emphasises core stability and postural alignment, which are beneficial for improving posture and preventing injuries.
Benefits of commercial Pilates include:
General Fitness: Effective for improving cardiovascular health, muscle tone and body composition.
Affordability: More affordable because of larger class sizes.
How do you activate the pelvic floor in Pilates?
Activating the pelvic floor muscles correctly is crucial in Pilates to support the spine, maintain pelvic stability and prevent issues like incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse. Here’s how you can activate the pelvic floor effectively during Pilates exercises:
Awareness: Start by developing awareness of your pelvic floor muscles. These are the muscles located at the base of your pelvis, like a hammock or sling from the pubic bone to the tailbone.
Engagement: Imagine lifting and gently drawing up the muscles of the pelvic floor. It should feel like a subtle lift, not a strong contraction. Visualise pulling the muscles inward and upward, as if you are trying to stop the flow of urine mid-stream or lift a small object with your vagina (for women) or scrotum (for men).
Breathing coordination: Coordinate the activation of the pelvic floor with your breath. Inhale to prepare, and as you exhale, gently lift and engage the pelvic floor muscles. Avoid holding your breath or bearing down on the pelvic floor.
Integrated activation: Activate the pelvic floor in conjunction with engaging your deep abdominal muscles and deep spinal muscles. This integrated core engagement provides stability to the spine and pelvis.
Posture and alignment: Maintain good posture and alignment throughout your Pilates exercises. A neutral spine position with natural curves supported by engaged core and pelvic floor muscles is ideal.
Specific exercises: Incorporate specific Pilates exercises that target the pelvic floor, such as pelvic curls, bridges or leg slides. Focus on maintaining pelvic floor engagement during exercises that challenge balance or involve lifting legs or arms.
Mind-body connection: Use mental imagery and concentration to connect with and activate the pelvic floor effectively. Practise regularly to improve your ability to activate and control these muscles during various movements.
Progression and variation: Gradually increase the complexity and challenge of exercises while maintaining pelvic floor activation. Modify exercises as needed to ensure you are activating the pelvic floor without strain or discomfort.
Supporting your health with Clinical Pilates in Sydney
At Papaya Clinic, we offer small-group clinical Pilates and exercise classes to help heal and strengthen your body. By following an integrated and holistic approach to women’s health, we ensure you’re in the best hands regardless of your walk of life or health concerns. Our experienced physio and pilates instructor team combine classical pilates techniques with evidence-based physiotherapy and rehab principles to deliver the best clinical Pilates Sydney has to offer. If you’re a first-time client, purchase the Papaya Pilates Introductory Package to get everything you need to get started. For those who have been to our clinic in the last 6 months, book a private session to launch your clinical Pilates journey today.
