top of page

So what *is* the difference between Clinical Pilates and Traditional Pilates?

Updated: Apr 26, 2023


Are injuries keeping you on the sidelines? Looking for a way to get fit and stay fit but don’t see any results from group classes?

Pilates vs. Clinical Pilates

Clinical Pilates is built on the same principles of Pilates that we’ve come to know and love in recent years. Based on the original work of Joseph Pilates, this increasingly popular form of exercise focuses on strengthening the core and pelvic floor muscles to improve posture and give an overall workout.

But clinical pilates is slightly different, in that it comes with a teacher. Be it a physical therapist, or a clinical Pilates specialist (or both as you’ll find at Actify!) your personal teacher establishes a personalized exercise program to address a client’s individual injury or rehabilitation concerns, and closely monitors their progress to ensure you achieve the results you are after.

Unlike a typical Pilates class, clinical Pilates is specifically designed to address the individual concerns of the client. Clinical Pilates specialists incorporate knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology with the concepts of Pilates exercise to begin an exercise program that addresses injury or rehabilitation concerns.

By skipping the group Pilates class and opting instead for a clinical program, you will enjoy a ton of benefits that come from individual attention. Everybody doing clinical Pilates undergoes a thorough assessment by their professional, so there is a good knowledge of how that person is functioning and what particular things will help them in terms of exercise.

No more trial and error with exercise cards or incorrect weights; just like your body, your program is unique. By having it tailored to your individual needs following this in-depth assessment, you will see the results that you actually want much faster.

And the results aren’t simply about toning up, losing weight or gaining strength. By training your body to move correctly, clinical Pilates minimizes stress and strain felt by your body when it moves and maximizes the efficiency at which your body works to give you greater strength, speed and flexibility.

Clinical Pilates is also a powerful tool for injury rehabilitation. Like the tent poles required to hold up a tent, all your muscles must be taking equal pressure of an equal strength in order for your body to function correctly. If any changes occur – be it small or large – then like a tent collapsing, the particular area of your body becomes destabilized and injuries occur.

An effective rehabilitation program will take the form of gentle, targeted strengthening exercises for the injured body part and the weaker body areas that predisposed the body to the injury in the first place, as well as rebalancing exercises for the other areas of the body as required.

Don’t have an injury or any frustrating niggles in your body? Well firstly, congratulations! But more importantly, don’t disregard this article because you too will find clinical Pilates highly beneficial. Clinical Pilates is about making your body do what it does, but in a better manner. By integrating a clinical Pilates program into your fitness schedule, you will improve your performance and ability, as well as reduce your chance of becoming injured.

If you’d like more information on how Actify PT can help you manage your pain or improve your performance, check out our website actifypt.com or give us a call (561) 366-2435.

399 views0 comments
bottom of page