Pilates

Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Pilates

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By: Claire Sparrow 

At least 50% of women pre-menopause experience symptoms of prolapse, and up to 85% of women post-menopause experience prolapse. I wanted to share these statistics right off the bat because, as Pilates teachers, we are often working with women who may or may not know or disclose that they have prolapse. Many women will not see their class or private session with you as relevant to their prolapse or realize that what you do together could help or hinder their symptoms. Additionally, women may not know the symptoms to look out for. 

I know this might feel worrying or surprising and you may not currently have the tools you need to start a conversation and support women with prolapse.  

What is prolapse?

Prolapse is often defined as a dropped or fallen organ due to the weakness of the pelvic floor muscles. I would suggest that this is not entirely true because we know based on the principles of biotensegrity that we are a suspension system where tension is what supports us. What that really means is that it is not strength alone that supports our organs, it’s the balance of tension, for example not too much strength and not too much laxity. Balance.  

With this understanding I redefined prolapse in my bestselling book, HOPE For Your Pelvic Floor:  

“Pelvic Organ Prolapse is the displacement of one or more pelvic organs, such as the uterus, bladder or bowel due to an imbalance of the tensional support in or influencing the pelvis.”  

I also suggest a new name for it, Pelvic Organ Displacement (POD). (Sparrow. C. HOPE For Your Pelvic Floor. Pp53)  

What are common causes of prolapse?

That balance is what leads us to what can go wrong and cause an organ to displace. One of the most common causes of imbalance is scar tissue from a birth injury. 95% of women who have a vaginal delivery will experience some degree of injury from a graze to a tear or episiotomy. If in your screening a woman tells you that she had a normal birth, it is worth asking if she had any intervention because if she had an assisted delivery she would have had an episiotomy. It’s important to note that scar tissue is essential to bring the tissue together and promote healing, however, it is like an iceberg where the surface scar is the tip, and it spreads far and wide and can pull a pelvic organ out of place. This has been proven by my colleague Anna Crowle and you can find her work here.  

What are the symptoms women may report?

You may be surprised to know that incontinence is not a common symptom of prolapse because the displaced organ prevents this. The main symptoms women experience is heaviness, tissue that feels out of place like a tampon is stuck and low back or sacrum pain.  

The three most common types of prolapse are:

  • Cystocele: the bladder displaces/bulges into the vagina and can create pressure into the lower abdomen.
  • Rectocele: the rectum displaces/bulges into the vagina and can feel like they haven’t fully emptied their bowels.
  • Uterine: prolapse, the uterus displaces/bulges into the vagina can often feel like they have a tampon or toilet tissue stuck or their internal folds of skin are in the wrong place.  

What can you do?

Now that you have a basic understanding of prolapse and appreciate how many women you teach may in fact be experiencing prolapse, how can you support them? I have created a basic three-step process to help you have a way to support those women.  

  1. Step One: Add the question to your intake form.  
    • Adding these questions will open up the conversation and give you the information you need to plan appropriately for your client. Do you have pelvic organ prolapse? Do you suspect you may have pelvic organ prolapse?  
  1. Step Two: Address and assess their breath.
    • Due to the fear and worry women carry around their organs falling out they will often go into a gripping and holding pattern that inhibits their diaphragmatic breathing process. This is something you can assess with them seated or standing to find out if they are allowing their breath to move into their pelvis. If not, you have the tools to create a positive movement experience that allows breath into the pelvis.  
  1. Step Three: Stimulate their pelvic floor through movement.
    • Instead of the traditional route of recruiting consciously, use your exercise choice, cues and intelligent imagery to help them access their spontaneous dynamic pelvic floor muscle recruitment. This might mean doing more exercises in quadruped, seated and standing where you are activating the diaphragmatic system or challenging it.  
    • Some of my favorites are double leg pump on the chair seated on the Oov, hamstring one kneeling cat variation, squats from the push through bar standing on the Oov and introducing pulses. There are so many to choose from.  

Considerations  

These three steps are a great start and even if you didn’t do these things, you may just need to know if there is anything to avoid, go with caution or be aware of:  

  • If they have pressure in their lower abdomen, it may feel uncomfortable to lie prone. 
  • They may feel embarrassed doing rolling or inversion exercises where they may pass gas due to lack of control.  
  • For some women, loaded adduction like horseback may be uncomfortable or increase their symptoms.  

I hope that you find this an eye-opening starting point and if you would like to find out more or join me in my membership or mentorship you can reach out to me or find out more at my website.

If you would like to learn more during the month of June, you can join me FREE every Wednesday at 8pm BST for Prolapse Awareness month.  

About the Author: 

Claire Sparrow is the Author of the bestselling book HOPE For Your Pelvic Floor, a Podcaster, Educator, Second Generation Teacher, & Pilates Studio Owner with over 20 years of experience.  

Claire founded her Whole Body Pelvic Health Method in 2018 after restoring her own prolapse and has helped thousands of women worldwide to restore their pelvic health so that they can step off the sidelines, into the spotlight and achieve their dreams. She has reinvented pelvic floor exercises, presents internationally and has mentored teachers in her method. Claire has created two pelvic health series’ for Pilates Anytime US, has been featured in Refinery 29, Natural Way, and Stylist Magazine and is the go-to recommendation for many leading women’s health physiotherapists.  

Claire is a Scotswoman, a mum of 3 and lives in Leeds. Her positive and humorous approach is refreshing, inspiring and fueled by empathy.  

She is the voice of HOPE. 

You can follow Claire on Instagram and Facebook.

Pilates for Hip Osteoarthritis: A Guide for Instructors

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By: Beth Kaplanek

As a Pilates instructor, you play a pivotal role in helping clients manage various conditions through targeted exercise programs. One common condition you may encounter is osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip. Understanding how to tailor Pilates exercises to support clients with hip OA can make a significant difference in their quality of life. This blog post will provide you with valuable insights and practical tips for working with clients dealing with hip osteoarthritis.

Understanding Osteoarthritis of the Hip

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint bathed in synovial fluid. The hip is one of the largest weight-bearing joints in the body with a large degree of range of motion in all planes. It relies on congruency and alignment to maintain its architecture and nourish the articular cartilage; a smooth, slippery substance that protects and cushions the ends of the bones and enables them to move efficiently.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease affecting the articular cartilage of the joint. It is a form of arthritis that occurs in people over 50 years of age but can occur in younger people, too. One in four individuals may experience OA of the hip in their lifetime.

It is considered to be a wear and tear disorder whereby microscopic pits and fissures begin to affect the articular cartilage that overtime left untreated can create bone surface changes, cartilage thinning, joint space narrowing, leaving bone rubbing on bone and creating osteophytes (bone spur formations). The synovial fluid that bathes the joint becomes irritated and loses its consistency and ability to nourish the cartilage efficiently.

Osteoarthritis develops slowly and the pain it causes worsens over time. Factors such as aging, genetics, obesity, previous injuries and developmental dysplasia can contribute to hip OA development.

Symptoms to Watch For

  • Pain in the groin that can radiate to the buttocks or knee.
  • Difficulty navigating stairs.
  • Antalgic gait – abnormal walk that causes a limp to avoid loading the joint.
  • Decreased range of motion.
  • Morning stiffness that decreases after an hour of movement.
  • Difficulty with prolonged sitting, driving and painful squatting.
  • Pain that worsens at night.
  • Decreased activities of daily living: dressing, lifting and chores.

The Role of Pilates in Managing Hip OA

Pilates is a low-impact exercise that focuses on whole body movement that enhances adaptability and control. It provides strengthening, increases endurance, improves posture, flexibility and stability making it an excellent choice for clients with lower extremity OA. A growing body of research suggests Pilates can significantly improve pain, function, and quality of life in individuals with hip osteoarthritis.

Here’s how Pilates can benefit your clients:

  1. Strengthening Muscles: Pilates focuses on building core stability and control, which helps stabilize the hip joint and alleviate pain. Strong muscles around the hip can reduce the load on the joint itself.
  2. Improving Flexibility: Gentle stretching exercises in Pilates can increase the range of motion and reduce stiffness in the hip.
  3. Enhancing Balance: Improving overall balance through Pilates can help prevent falls and further injuries, which is crucial for clients with compromised hip joints.
  4. Reducing Pain: Low-impact movements in Pilates provide a safe way to manage pain and improve joint function without causing additional stress to the hip.
  5. Promoting Posture: Proper postural alignment alleviates unnecessary stress on the hip joint, contributing to pain relief and improved movement patterns.

Key Pilates Exercises for Hip OA

Incorporating the right exercises is essential to ensure the safety and effectiveness of your Pilates sessions. Below you will find some exercises particularly beneficial for clients with hip OA.

  • Pelvic Clock
  • Bent Knee Fall Opening
  • Bent Knee Internal Rotation
  • Bridges
  • Side Kick Series – Short Lever and Long Lever
  • Hip Capsule Guides
  • Single Leg Circles Modified

Contraindications & Modifications

Not all exercises are suitable for everyone. It’s crucial to avoid exercises that may aggravate a client’s hip pain. Always try to create a movement experience with no pain.

Modifications are key. Each of the key exercises can be modified to cater to different pain levels and client abilities. Work within a range of motion applicable for the client and creates a positive movement experience.

Tips for Working with Clients

  • Consultation: Always ensure clients have consulted with their healthcare provider before starting a Pilates program.
  • Proper Alignment: Emphasize correct alignment and hip disassociation as tolerated with all movements.
  • Gradual Progression: Start with basic exercises and gradually increase intensity based on the client’s comfort and ability.
  • Use of Props: Incorporate props like resistance bands, balls, towels, soft rollers and Pilates rings to assist and modify exercises for added support as needed.

Conclusion

As a Pilates Practitioner, your expertise can significantly improve the lives of clients with osteoarthritis of the hip. By incorporating tailored exercises and focusing on strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, and proper alignment, you can help your clients manage their condition effectively and enhance their overall well-being. Remember, the goal is to create a supportive and adaptable Pilates program that addresses the unique needs of each individual by giving a positive movement experience while promoting long-term health and mobility.

Learn more about hip osteoarthritis by joining us on a 3-hour online workshop with Beth Kaplanek where you can earn 3 NCPC Credits.

About the Author

Beth A. Kaplanek, RN, BSN, NCPT is a Practitioner of Pilates for Rehabilitation. She is a post-rehabilitation specialist at the Polestar Pilates headquarters in Miami and works as an educator for Polestar Education. She is serving on the education committee for Bone Health Osteoporosis Foundation. Previously, Kaplanek served for more than 20 years as a registered nurse working in various capacities within emergency room care, operating room care, intensive care, drug counseling, rehabilitation and hospice care.

After undergoing her first hip replacement in 2001, Kaplanek began using Pilates as a form of low impact exercise for strength and flexibility training. She has been teaching Pilates for 23 years and has had the opportunity to see and demonstrate the positive impact that the Method can have on individuals in both the pre-habilitation and post-operative rehabilitation stages.

Beth teaches, shares, and showcases her techniques and work in her course,” The Pilates Teacher’s Perspective of Lower Extremity Pathologies and Joint Replacements.”

Follow Beth on Instagram @bethkaplanek and join her on her online workshop to better understand hip osteoarthritis!

Watch Beth on the Pilates Hour here!

How The Spinefitter Empowers Pilates and Physical Therapy

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By Alexander Bohlander

Elevate Your Practice and Empower Your Clients: The Spinefitter Advantage

At Polestar Pilates, we understand the dedication Pilates instructors and physical therapists have to their clients’ well-being. We’re constantly seeking innovative tools to enhance your practice and empower you to deliver exceptional results. The Spinefitter by SISSEL – a revolutionary tool to enhance Pilates and physical therapy sessions – stands out as a versatile and effective tool, celebrated for its ability to improve spinal health, core strength, and overall client progress. 

As proven by SISSEL’s 2022 case study, spine mobility, pain, and tension were significantly improved in participants after incorporating the Spinefitter into their practice.

Here’s how the Spinefitter can revolutionize your Pilates or physical therapy sessions:

  • Enhanced Spinal Alignment and Mobility: The Spinefitter’s ergonomic design cradles the natural curvature of the spine, promoting better posture and improved mobility in your clients. Consistent use can increase flexibility, reduce stiffness, and contribute to a healthier back – a fundamental goal for many clients. 
  • Targeted Muscle Activation and Relaxation: The unique structure, featuring rows of massage balls, delivers deep tissue stimulation, promoting muscle relaxation and recovery. It’s particularly adept at activating hard-to-reach muscle groups, ensuring a well-rounded and effective workout for your clients. 
  • Effective Therapeutic and Rehabilitative Support: For clients experiencing back pain or recovering from injuries, the Spinefitter offers a gentle yet effective approach to pain relief and rehabilitation. Its design facilitates safe, controlled movements, making it ideal for therapeutic settings. 
  • Unleash Versatility in Your Sessions: Suitable for beginners and advanced clients alike, the Spinefitter integrates seamlessly with various exercise levels. This adaptability ensures dynamic and engaging sessions tailored to individual needs, a must-have for any instructor or therapist. 
  • Boost Client Body Awareness: Utilizing the Spinefitter can heighten a client’s body awareness, particularly regarding spinal alignment and movement. This amplified awareness is crucial for mastering Pilates techniques and achieving long-term benefits for your clients. 
  • Seamless Integration into Group or Private Sessions: The Spinefitter adds value in both group classes and private sessions. It allows for synchronized group activities or personalized routines, making it a perfect choice for all Pilates and physical therapy environments. 

“If your spine is completely flexible at 60, you are young.”  
— Joseph Pilates

Ready to Take Your Practice to the Next Level?

Are you interested in incorporating the Spinefitter into your Pilates or physical therapy sessions? Visit Polestar Pilates to discover specialized training that will equip you to master this tool and maximize client results. We currently offer a course on the Spinefitter and registrations are open! To acquire your own Spinefitters, head over to the Balanced Body store. 

At Polestar Pilates, we’re committed to providing the tools and knowledge to empower you to elevate your practice and empower your clients. The Spinefitter by SISSEL is just one example of how we can help you achieve optimal client health and peak performance. Join us and unlock the transformative power of Pilates or physical therapy with the right tools at your fingertips! 

About the Author:

Alexander Bohlander, a dedicated Osteopath, PT and Polestar Pilates licensee in Europe who has gained experience and extensive positive results over the last 4 years using the Spinefitter by Sissel. In his 6 health centers, Pilates studios in Germany the Spinefitter is used for: 

  • Chronic back pain conditions 
  • Fascial restriction pathologies 
  • Scoliosis treatment 
  • Athletic conditioning 
  • Spinefitter Pilates group classes 
  • Spinefitter  Pilates equipment combinations. 

The Polestar Pilates meets Spinefitter curriculum is taught worldwide with unseen success. Alexander has filled courses in China and Australia in 2024 with enthusiastic students, reporting of almost unlimited success with clients and patients. 

Follow Spinefitter on Instagram and be part of the global movement. 

Advice On Cueing The Core: More Muscles Than You Imagined

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Brent Anderson and Shelly Power discuss the muscles that comprise “the core” – and it may be more muscles than you thought! Join us LIVE on Thursdays at 3 PM eastern to participate in the discussion in our #PilatesHour webinar. Watch #PilatesHour Episode 124 “Optimizing Cueing of The Core” Here.

BA:  How do we think about cueing the core? For starters, the “core” muscles also include the muscles that connect the extremities to the core.  I always say that “core control is the appropriate amount of stiffness for the anticipated movement”. Oftentimes in everyday activities, and in Pilates, the load to our core comes from our extremities. With the exception of putting weight directly on your chest, most core load comes from the extremities; head, arms, and legs.

We could then put a significant number of muscles into the category of “core control muscles”. Everything from the hip extensors, psoas muscles, hip abductors and adductors to pectoralis and latissimus muscles. All of these muscles are related to controlling and contributing to core control.

THE MYTH OF THE “CORE WORKOUT”

One thing we really want to debunk is the concept that core control is governed by the rectus abdominis. I get scared when someone says “I did a really hard core-workout”. In reality, all they did was work on the anterior pillar of their trunk.  Then they often expand a little bit and say “well I also did obliques”.  

We have to understand where we dilute the word ‘control’, because we want to bring that word back to life. My definition of control is “having the appropriate amount of stiffness for the anticipated load of activity”. It really depends on the activity you are planning on doing. If your client wants to lift weights, maybe you can utilize some of Stuart McGill’s cueing.

We might use an engagement or bracing cue. There might be some benefit to breath holding. Possibly some controlled valsalva to be able to get maximum intra-abdominal pressure while doing a deadlift with 400 pounds for example. This is also completely acceptable in training.

CUEING THE CORE & PELVIC FLOOR

SP:  I think it’s also important to recognize that yes, we are cueing the core muscles, and yes, we are cueing the pelvic floor – we are cueing all of these muscles. We are just not doing it by saying ‘now contract your pelvic floor’, or ‘now contract your abdominals’, “hollow your belly”, or “navel to spine”. Those ways of cueing the muscles are a bit outdated and I think this is where some of the misunderstandings reside. 

We are absolutely cueing the body, the whole body, so we’re trying to think of it a little bit more as a system. There are ways that I will cue that will get certain muscle groups to be a little bit more active. A big part of this concept is moving away from the idea that only one muscle has a job at a time.

The more you can get the whole body to work as a system, the better off your clients are when they leave your class. Great, you did an hour of Pilates, but what happens when you need to go out and run around a soccer field and play a sport? It’s not that we’re not cueing specific muscles, but that we’re also trying to do it in the most intelligent fashion.

DISTRIBUTION OF MOVEMENT EQUALS DISTRIBUTION OF FORCE

BA:  Most of you who follow Polestar know the phrase ‘distribution of movement equals distribution of force’. Shelly puts this into some very clear words, which I’d like her to share because I think this ties into efficiency and how important mobility is. 

SP:  As Pilates teachers, we have all likely encountered a student in class saying ‘I can’t do a roll-up because I am not strong enough’. The teacher might say ‘Ok, we will get you stronger’, but the client is likely perfectly strong! 

The working model in my head is the way our bodies are constructed, all the different joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and fascia, are all built to function the way they were meant to function. Unless something significant happens, like an accident or surgery, we are built to move and to be strong.  

BA:  I love that! That is one of Eric Franklin’s great phrases “we are built to move well”.

SP: Of course sometimes life can get in the way. We maybe don’t move as much as we could, or we move too much in a certain way. All of the different habits and behaviors of life happen. A lot of those “movement places”, the joints, don’t move enough, and some move too much. The muscles become deconditioned and we don’t utilize them in all the ranges of motion. Now we are relatively weak in comparison to when everything moved well.

How To Grow Your PT Practice With The Reformer

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Dr. Ada Wells DPT, PMA-CPT, TPI Level 3 is a senior Polestar faculty member with 25+ years of working as a physical therapist and educator in rehabilitation, fitness, and health education.  She is the owner of ProBalance Physical Therapy & Pilates in the SF Bay Area since 2004 and provides services at her brick-and-mortar business and online.  In addition to her development of specialized sports rehabilitation & performance programs, Ada provides lectures on rehabilitation and healthy lifestyle exercise.

BA: How did you go from what you saw as the reformer in the rehabilitation studio, to what you built today? You have a whole studio of group reformers and I know you also use the Konnectors and all of your machines have been adapted.  You use the Oov a lot in conjunction with your reformer classes – can you speak to that evolution?  How did you go from just the reformer in a physical therapy clinic to what you have developed today?

AW: The very first place I worked as a Physical Therapist in a larger facility was in a gym but we still only had one reformer. When I opened up my first studio location it was set up in a way that was really separated by private areas but I didn’t have this one large room to be able to have enough machines for a group class.

I made do with what I had, and eventually had two reformers, a trapeze table, and a chair. I was able to do trios and duets and was able to get people to realize they were working on the same thing on different machines and there’s that sense in the room that you’re in the same vibe in the movement.

When I acquired the studio space I am in now, I got this larger room area which is what I specifically wanted in order to be able to teach group reformer classes. The moment we moved into this space my business completely transformed. It went from a smaller operation to “wow” I am impacting a lot of people’s lives and really felt like a force in the neighborhood. It was simply for that reason, the ability to reach multiple people in that one hour of time.

Let’s face it, I love to teach privates, and I love one-on-one, but it is kind of trading time for dollars. When you can create an opportunity to scale your services and to reach a larger group of people, In this case with group classes as well as teaching online, it really changes the game in terms of how I feel I can impact people. We have this network now and it is just wonderful to be able to share that.

BA: One of the things that impressed me is the ease of the introduction of movement in a safer space. In the reformer studio, we can control things like speed, progress quicker, and make the proprioception less or more challenging. The reformer was built to be able to assist people who were not able to do the Pilates mat work. If you can’t hold your feet up in the hundred position, we can put your feet in the straps. We can put just enough springs to take off the load so that you can do the exercise correctly.

As we progress we can move towards the hundred, leg circles, and other exercises. This made so much sense to me as a rehabilitation practitioner. Sometimes in reference to the Pilates studio, we use the word “playground”. This ability to go in and create assistive environments to be able to progress people through graded load, proprioception, and tempos. What are your thoughts on that environment?

AW: It’s one place where people have the opportunity to feel graceful because they are supported. Feet in straps baby! I do not dare teach a class without feet in straps. I laugh because I tried and we actually had to go back and do it because my students were revolting!

It’s the place where they feel like they have control of their movement and what’s wonderful is that for the beginner we can still modify. Maybe they can’t tolerate having their legs totally straight, maybe they have some neural tension, no problem! We can load up more springs and maybe move the straps to their thighs. It’s funny because I always hated physics when I was in school, I couldn’t stand it.

Working with the equipment was dealing with physics every day, but it doesn’t feel like physics it just feels fun. You can see these angles of pull and you start to appreciate just through using it that you can see “we have a shorter lever here – distribute the weight there”.

The biggest thing is just helping people feel like they can move. They are being nurtured and supported in movement if they need to be. I teach a Pilates for athletes class, maybe it should be Pilates for Ageing Athletes because they are all athletes over fifty. The class allows them to do the things that feel athletic but they also very much revel in the stuff that’s more basic and fundamental because they realize how it feels in their body that they can feel their femoral head massaging their socket. They can feel the benefits!

They are developing this awareness they didn’t have before because maybe they were just powering through, or bulldozing through their exercises.

BA: Exactly!

Watch the full #PilatesHour episode “The Pilates Reformer: From Rehabilitation to Performance” here.

The Secret to Working with Joint Replacements

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Polestar Faculty Beth Kaplanek RN, BSN, NCPT created an easily digestible 16-hour ONLINE course that is designed for Pilates Instructors and other medical professionals.  Learn more about when the next course is happening.

We sat down with Beth Kaplanek, for an intimate conversation about her book and upcoming course. Continue reading to meet Beth and discover why you should take this course if you are a Pilates Instructor or in the medical field.

Polestar:  Tell us about yourself Beth!

BK: I started my career in fitness in 1998, teaching aerobics and personal training. I also served for 20 years as a registered nurse working in various capacities in the emergency room, the operating room, the intensive care unit, drug counseling and rehabilitation, and hospice care. After years of teaching fitness, I became a Pilates Instructor because of my right hip replacement – possibly one of the first-ever instructors with a joint replacement. I think I can own that! Sixteen years later due to a bilateral hip condition, I ended up needing my second hip replacement and Pilates has been and continues to be the best way for me to move and live healthily all while keeping my flexibility, strength, range of motion and maintaining the integrity of the prosthesis. I was asking myself how I could share it with others to help them regain full function and have a positive movement experience.

Polestar: And you wrote a book and created a course with Polestar!  Can you tell us more about that? 

BK:  I wrote a book alongside two Orthopedic surgeons, Brett Levine MS, MD, and William L. Jaffe MD. The book is called Pilates for Hip and Knee Syndromes and Arthroplasties. The book presents the Pilates method and how it can be adopted for the needs of individuals with hip and knee pathologies and joint replacements. The book was written after Dr. Levine, Dr. Jaffe and I showcased preliminary research regarding Pilates as a form of post-operative rehabilitation for Knee and hip arthroplasties published in the Bulletin of the NYU for Joint Diseases and Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research.

Polestar:  That’s amazing! Can you share more about your course?

BK: It can be complicated material, but I break it down so that it can be easily digested and implemented into anyone’s practice.

“You have to hear it, see it, and apply it in order to learn it and use it!”

This course should be the next step for every instructor that has finished their core curriculum in Pilates. For those who take this course, I provide them with a 175+ page manual (it’s actually more like a book!) to reinforce everything that they learn during the course itself. I want Pilates instructors to think about how they can apply the course material in thinking about movement. The course guides you through working with people with pathologies and joint replacements. Over the two days, there are four movement labs. Every piece of the Pilates apparatus is utilized in creating a full-body movement program for the individual client. I send you home with an illustrated manual full of guidelines for movement and suggested movements for [that] pathology.

“The body is an amazing thing.”

The ultimate goal is to give a positive movement experience with no pain or discomfort. We as Pilates Instructors need to help to re-educate [the client’s] movement patterns and then build strength! The [Pilates] instructor has to be aware of pathologies and common problems that we see on a regular basis.

“…There is always something to learn!”

Pilates is an ideal form of low-impact movements that are easily adaptable
to the pre and post-rehabilitation and fitness needs of your clients with hip and knee pathologies and joint replacements.

Polestar: So very true. Thank you for that. If people have questions about this course or your book where should they contact you?

BK:  They can always visit my website www.bethkaplanek.com  or email me at beth@bethkaplanek.com . I also work at the Polestar Pilates Studio in Miami, Florida so you can stop in and say hi!

Beth Kaplanek is a practitioner of Pilates for Rehabilitation and Author of “Pilates for Hip and Knee Syndromes and Arthroplasties – Pilates Teacher’s Perspective of Lower Extremity Pathologies and Joint Replacements”