Clinical Pilates

At Spire Manchester Hospital we offer a fully-accessible Clinical Pilates service including 1:1 sessions or group classes to aid your recovery from surgery or injury. Clinical Pilates can help with:

• musculoskeletal conditions
• post-operative rehabilitation
• functional rehabilitation
• muscle weakness
• lower back pain
• relaxation and stress management

Our clinical Pilates sessions are led by one of our experienced and fully qualified physiotherapists, who has undergone specialist training in Clinical Pilates through the Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute (APPI).

All of our physiotherapists are qualified and benefit from working in our modern, well-equipped hospital.

Many patients are able to benefit from clinical Pilates exercises but before you attend the classes you must undergo an initial assessment with the physiotherapist to assess your suitability. 

At this assessment your medical history will be taken, objective measurements recorded and goals set to ensure that you receive the maximum benefit from the exercises. The physiotherapist will teach you the key elements of clinical Pilates, how to engage the correct muscles and teach you some of the fundamental Pilates exercise movements.

Following a successful assessment you are able to commence your clinical Pilates classes. At Spire Manchester Hospital we offer a course of 6 classes at beginners level or intermediate/advanced level and the physiotherapist will advise you on which class you should attend.

On the day of your assessment or class please wear or bring suitable, loose fitting, clothing and shoes that are comfortable to exercise in and will allow:

• your physiotherapist to assess you
• you to move easily

Please ensure that you arrive 5 minutes before your class is due to start to allow time for checking in at reception and changing if required. You will be asked to remove footwear when the class begins.

There are changing rooms with lockers and disabled facilities in the physiotherapy department.

For more information on our facilities, parking and all those other important practicalities, please visit our patient information page.

Clinical Pilates exercises are matwork movements which means they will be performed on an exercise mat.

The structure of the class includes a 10 minute warm up, followed by 40 minutes of core strengthening exercises and ends with a 10 minute cool down.

Your physiotherapist instructing the class will supervise all of the movements to ensure you maintain good control and good form. If at any time you feel the movements are too difficult or you experience pain let your physiotherapist know and they will be able to advise you on variations to the movement or offer an alternative exercise.  

We recommend attending 6 classes to ensure you benefit from the strengthening exercise programme. After your course of 6 classes you will be given the option to continue and book for another course of 6 classes should you wish to continue.

At Spire Manchester Hospital we also offer 1:1 sessions, please contact us for more information.