Physio-led pilates classes

At Perform Physiotherapy at Spire Little Aston Hospital, we run clinical Pilates classes. This means our classes are run by a qualified physiotherapist who has additional qualifications in teaching Pilates. Their medical, biomechanical and patho-physiological training means they have an extensive understanding of movement, functional stability and injury. This makes them best placed to teach you within the context of your own limitations and help you achieve your exercise goals.

Our classes last 60 minutes and involve both free standing and mat based exercises. There is a maximum of six people per class enabling the physiotherapist to offer individual supervision to participants. Classes are run in the Perform Studio at Spire Little Aston Hospital, Sutton Coldfield.

‘Core stability’ is the term given to the action provided by a group of muscles in the lumbo-pelvic region that form a natural corset that protects our spine and abdominal organs, particularly during dynamic and lifting activities including; manual work, gardening and sport. The action of this group of muscles also contributes to our posture and spinal mobility. A weakness in this region can therefore affect this supportive mechanism for the spine and potentially lead to either poor posture and/or injury.

If you suffer from back pain or have had a spinal injury or surgery, this corset of core muscles can become dysfunctional. If this is the case, the spine can become vulnerable to everyday physical stresses of life, work and sport and you may be at risk of further injury.

Most sports require trunk flexibility and stability, strong legs and gluteal muscles to help transfer energy and power through the different slings of muscles in the body. Back injuries are common in sport and Pilates exercise can help athletes relieve pain and improve performance by improving the stability and flexibility around the spine which helps prevent back pain and reduce the risk of future injuries.

Pilates exercise has been proven effective to enhance sports performance for many different sports, and many top sportsmen and women are now making Pilates an integral part of their fitness programme to enhance their performance, improve their technique and keep their bodies strong, supple and injury free.

Mandy Elliot, our Clinical Pilates Physiotherapist is also a qualified Pink Ribbon Post Rehab Instructor. This means she is qualified to treat women who have undergone treatment for Breast Cancer (both surgical and non-surgical) with a view to improving their general level of activity as well as more specifically addressing any movement restriction or muscular weakness around their treatment site. These Pilates-based sessions are carried out on a one to one basis and are also designed to improve posture and confidence. For more information about this specialist treatment, please call 0121 580 7131 and ask to speak with Mandy Elliot.