Therapeutic Pilates: Applications

Abstract

The following are characteristics of the Pilates equipment:

- Guided movements

- Support

- Multiple levels of intensity and challenge

- The difficulty of any Pilates exercise can be increased

or decreased by means of the following options:

- Altering resistance by means of the springs:

- Concentric muscle work is usually increased by adding resistance, eccentric muscle work the by reducing resistance.

- Changing the base of support:

- Increasing the base of support will always make the exercise easier to perform.

- Altering the path of movement:

- A larger range of motion will usually increase challenge, as more dynamic stability is required.

- Adjusting the length of lever:

- Increasing lever length adds load to the lever arm at the pivot point, but may also facilitate an exercise (e.g., if passive support is thereby created).

- Altering planes of movement:

- Moving in only one movement plane decreases difficulty; movement in multiple planes increases the difficulty of an exercise