Pilates for Rehab and Prehab

I’ve taught Pilates to hundreds of people across all ages and fitness levels. Often, they come to me because Pilates has been recommended to them by their doctor or specialists. Sometimes it’s because they are suffering from chronic pain that would benefit from improved strength, mobility, or flexibility. Other times, they come to Pilates for rehab from surgery or “prehab” to get stronger and minimize pain until they receive surgery. I’ve worked with many people awaiting hip or knee replacements, back surgery, or shoulder surgery. 

How Pilates Helps Chronic Pain

Most people suffering from chronic pain or who are awaiting surgery have become limited in their activity levels. They have stopped doing the things they love, avoid or reduce doing everyday tasks that require certain movements, and may be overly sedentary. Pilates helps these clients get low-impact (or no-impact), safe movement back into their lives. 

Pilates also brings relief from tight muscles and imbalances brought on by their condition. It’s common to have more imbalances when a person needs to limp, shuffle, or hunch over due to injury or joint pain. This means one side/part of the body becomes weaker, the other side needs to overcompensate, and everything gets out of whack. 

Pilates for Rehab & Recovery

After surgery, you will likely still have to compensate for a time while your body heals and you work on your strength. By doing Pilates as prehab, your post-surgery experiences will be easier. You’ll both recover and regain your strength faster thanks to the work you put in beforehand. You’ll have: 

• A stronger core and back muscles help with better posture. After surgery, you may need to use a cane or crutches for some time. When you have a strong posture, you won’t need to put as much weight into those devices because your muscles will support you. This means less hunching or leaning on your cane or crutches, which again translates into less pain. 
• A stronger core, glutes, ankle, and knee stabilizers. These muscles all help with balance, which is essential as you’re getting back up on your feet after surgery. Walking, picking things up off the floor, reaching, and going up and down stairs all require balance, and Pilates will help you stay safe and strong as you recover. 

My grandmother had hip surgery when I was young, and I clearly remember her always having a limp and using a cane afterward. I also knew that she didn’t do her post-surgery exercises. It can be hard to motivate yourself to do your prescribed stretches and physiotherapy on your own, which is why I see so many clients post-surgery. They like the 1:1 attention and accountability of coming to the studio. They also like how Pilates makes them feel. 

A past client of mine has an inspiring story about how Pilates helped him recover from double hip surgery… and climb a mountain! 

Pilates is for Every Body

Pilates may look intimidating to someone who is on either side of surgery. What we often see on social media, however, is the “fancy” stuff; but by design, Pilates can be adapted and suited to almost anyone. Working one on one initially is important, so you get full attention to ensure you move safely and get help when required. I like to know about my client’s other rehab exercises, so I can offer complementary exercises as well. As you progress, you may want to stick with 1:1 sessions or move into smaller group classes; be sure to listen to your body and communicate with your instructor to determine what’s best for you. 

I have personally felt the pain of muscle tightness, imbalances in strength, and overuse injuries. There are times when I need help from a chiropractor or massage therapist, but for the most part, I use Pilates to loosen things up and stretch the pain away. It’s a great preventative form of exercise, and if you can do regular exercises for stretching and strength you can hopefully avoid the need for surgeries. Of course, this isn’t always the case, but the stronger you are going into surgery, the better and faster you’ll recover. And with Pilates, you’ll stay strong and keep moving far into the future.