A painful sacroiliac joint is one of the most common causes of mechanical lower back pain. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is the term used to describe the condition, which is usually associated with too much or too little mobility in the joint. The most common symptoms from sacroiliac joint dysfunction are lower back and buttock pain, pain in the groin area and also pain radiating down the leg to the foot. Causes of sacroiliac joint pain can be split into four categories; traumatic, biomechanical, hormonal and inflammatory joint disease. Firstly, non-surgical treatments would be tried, such as anti-inflammatory medications, rest, wearing a sacroiliac belt and seeing an osteopath, physiotherapist and specialist pilates instructor. If conservative treatment is unsuccessful, cortisone injections, radiofrequency denervation and surgery as a last resort can be tried. This paper shows the effects of BASI pilates on an athlete who has had sacroiliac joint dysfunction for twelve years. For the last twelve weeks, Rebecca has been doing regular pilates classes, twice a week. She is in less pain, has achieved improved pelvis stabilization, posture and muscle balance.

Diastasis recti is the separation of the rectus abdominis muscles along the linea alba. While diastasis recti can occur in any person it is common in postnatal women in various degrees.The final stage of pregnancy brings about changes to the position of the ribcage and the respiratory diaphragm, often lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis of the spine occur and most noticeably the tissues of the abdomen stretch to accommodate the baby. The midline connective tissue, the linea alba stretches laterally, causing it to become thinner, weaker and less able to transmit load from the left and right side of the transversus abdominis and obliques. I intend to show that a specialised Pilates programme is the ideal prescription for healing the Linea Alba tissue and restoring the integrity of the abdominal wall.

Forward Head Posture is when the head is in a position that is anterior of its neutral. This can be due to sitting, posture, injury or bad habits. Upper Cross Syndrome is characterized by an internal rotation of the shoulders and a roundness in the upper back. Today’s generation is tech driven with regard to education and entertainment. Children and teens are leading a more sedentary life whether is familial environmental factors or social obligations and expectations. Teens are experiencing fixation of fascia and additional tightness in their musculature because of factors outside of normal growth stages. It is primarily due to less activity and movement. Schools are often cutting recess short in an effort to reduce playground bullying while not providing more opportunities for movement inside the classroom. Teenagers are participating in less organized sports while online gaming participation is skyrocketing. These trends are only exacerbating the postural imbalances of the 21st century teen.

In the event of delayed wound healing a patient may be a candidate for wound vacuum therapy. This treatment uses negative pressure to increase healing while cleansing the wound. Healing a wound can take a significant amount of time during which a patient may develop a lack of confidence in their body and fear of further delaying their healing. In the case study for my client I observed how fear and pain quickly lead to dysfunctions in the body. Using the vast Pilates repertoire can bring a client back to confident and functional movement. Not only can we address moving with efficiency and precision, but we can incorporate the principles of awareness and control to lead a client back to a healthy state of mind and body.

Plantar Fasciitis is the known term of heel pain or arch of the foot especially during the morning. Approximately two million patients are treated for this condition every year.i It can be due to several reasons such as having a high arch or a flat foot. Doctors and Physical therapists suggest several methods to ease the pain besides having a good and well-constructed Pilates program. A night splint, calf stretch, and orthotics are some of the suggested things to do alongside the program. In this paper, I discuss the anatomy review of the foot and then discuss a case with detail. I have taken myself as the client as I was diagnosed with Plantar Fasciitis two years ago. I discuss the program that I did for myself and what differences did I notice before and after following an organized Pilates program that is designed specifically to help me manage the pain.

Powerlifting is a strength sport that consists of three attempts at maximal weight on three lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift. The aim to training in this manner is to develop as much all round strength as possible by using these three fundamental movements and a strict programme to increase load gradually. In this paper I will explore the idea that powerlifting can benefit from cross training Pilates and the most effective way to achieve desired results for my client. I will do this by looking at common injuries and issues that occur in powerlifting training and the key muscles used so that I can create a class to combat any pain or difficulties my client has and help prevent future injury.

The knee complex is one of the most often injured joints in the human body. The myriad of ligamentous attachments, along with numerous muscles crossing the joint, provide insight into the joint’s complexity. This anatomic complexity is necessary to allow for the elaborate interplay between the joint’s mobility and stability roles. The knee joint works in conjunction with the hip joint and ankle to support the body’s weight during static erect posture. Knee traumas are frequent in adult active population specially those involved in high risk sports like ski, martial arts, soccer and others. This kind of traumatic injury hugely impedes the daily living activities. Meniscus injury is very common in knee traumatology. The meniscus can be injured in many ways and on different locations (flap tear, bucket handle tear, vertical tear, horizontal tear, complex tear), thus causing a variety of histories and different clinical findings.

The hamstring muscles attach to the pelvis, thigh, and lower leg. We usually think of their action as a group of knee flexors - bringing your heel closer to the back of the thigh. We commonly neglect to pay attention to their other action, which is to posteriorly tilt the pelvis flattening out the lower back and tucking the pelvis under. When the hamstrings are weak or tight, movements are restricted and our posture is thrown out of alignment with a potential risk of developing back pain.

As a personal trainer at a Country Club, I often encounter members wanting to start training with the intention of improving their golf game. This entails hitting the ball further, completing a round of golf without back pain, improving their accuracy or lowering their handicap. I believe that whatever their goal is, strength training is part of the solution but also being flexible and developing musculoskeletal balance is a necessity. As a Pilates instructor, I am now able to work with these clients incorporating strength and stretching into their golf training regime using Mat Pilates and other Pilates apparatus. The members have remained active (with less pain) and have seen improvements in their game. Many have strengthened weak areas of their bodies, especially their back and have become more flexible in their hips and hamstrings.

Utilizing the BASI Block System, this study aims to discover the effects that Pilates training has on strengthening and increasing ranges of motion in hip flexion for ballet dancers. This research focuses on improving the technique, stability, and range of motion for a ballet dancer’s ability to perform a développé devant. Développé devant is a ballet move where the dancer’s ending position is turned out, in hip external rotation, standing on one leg while the oth- er leg is ideally above 90 degrees of hip flexion. Although hip external rotation is critical for the aesthetics of this position, the study focuses primarily on the hip flexors. An assessment of both passive and active range of motion (ROM) in hip flexion is measured with external rotation be- fore and after the program.

Regular exercise is ideal before, during, and after pregnancy, as it helps strengthen your muscles, control body weight, improve your energy and mood, and can even prevent depression (post-partum and otherwise). During pregnancy, a lot of changes occur in the female body. From hormonal changes, to weight gain, lower back pain, muscle weakness, and stress incontinence, it is imperative to promote a healthy pregnancy through safe exercise. Pilates is a perfect workout method during pregnancy, as it is low impact and focuses on muscle control, balance, stability, as well as mobility. Postural exercises emphasizing upper body strength are great during pregnancy. During the first trimester, most Pilates exercises are safe to do, as long as the level of intensity is not higher than prior to the pregnancy. During second and third trimesters, exercises done standing, kneeling, or sitting are typically safe. Exercises done while lying on the back or on the stomach should be avoided during the second and third trimester.

Golf is constantly evolving. The importance of golf specific conditioning is slowly beginning to be widely accepted from amateurs to the world class level. Partly due to Tiger Woods, who brought the word “athlete” to the game of golf. With this new athletic approach to the sport, golfers are beginning to understand just how mentally and physically demanding their sport is and are seeing significant improvement in performance and preventing injury through golf specific training, both mental and physical. Players on the PGA Tour sometimes play up to 40 weeks a year in a season. This can really take a toll on the body and cause pain, physical and mental stress, and even season ending injuries. The Pilates Method for the professional golfer simultaneously builds balance, flexibility, and strength. While teaching the body to move in integrated and efficient ways. My Pilates for The PGA Tour program will optimize the golfers physical and mental game with a step by step golf specific program. This includes conditioning the mind and body to reduce the risk of injury and keep the professional golfer playing healthy and pain free all-season long.

Modern surfing is a strenuous, competitive sport that requires great physical skill and technique. Surfers place high demands on their bodies: paddling in a prone position for extended periods while looking ahead for waves; pulling hard through the water with their arms then dynamically popping up to their feet to catch waves; modern surfing involves torso twisting and agile footwork under significant force. The combined impact of these stressors generates wear and tear to the shoulder joints, the hips and knee, but most acutely impacts the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. This research focuses on the effects of surfing on the lower back as well as the flow of surrounding joints and muscles during surfing. Pilates conditioning addresses all the needs for a surfer’s body: awareness, balance, flexibility, control, center, endurance, strength, flow and harmony.

In this paper I look at how getting back into exercise after childbirth takes commitment and mental strength to overcome the challenges of being a mother. Often women ‘bounce back’ quickly after their first child, but slower after their second or third. Life goes under a drastic change where your body is not the same, time is not your own, you sleep less, eat more and generally have less willingness to exercise. This study is of a young mother with four children. Due to complications with the birth of her last child my client had an emergency hysterectomy. With a tailor made BASI program I will follow her journey back into finding the balance between looking after her children and herself. With her doctors approval I focus on strengthening her abdominal and pelvic muscles in a safe and controlled way, bringing awareness to postural deviations and imbalances created by breastfeeding and her busy lifestyle.

This paper examines how one can build strength and flexibility pre and post-op for a client that is scheduled to have hip replacement surgery due to acetabular (hip) dysplasia. Hip replacement surgery is a procedure in which a doctor surgically removes a painful hip joint with osteoarthritis and replaces it with an artificial joint often made from metal and plastic components. This paper gives an overview of the function of the hip joint, acetabular dysplasia, osteoarthritis and a case study of myself who has had two hip replacements and undergone the below Pilates strengthening programmes.

Balanced posture keeps your body in proper alignment. Poor posture can affect the resting length of muscles and will cause dysfunction in the muscles, joints and bones. When muscles and joints don’t function at their peak there can be pain and or injury over time. When slouching the head tilts forward, the chest and anterior shoulder muscles are shortened, the shoulders are rounded, the breath is constricted, and the back and posterior shoulder muscles are lengthened. These changes can affect the alignment of the shoulders and spinal regions while at rest or during movement. Pilates professionals utilize assessment tools to review posture, the findings help guide in the development of conditioning programs that address deviations, injuries, imbalance and or pain to restore clients bodies and minds. Kyphosis refers to an exaggerated curve in the thoracic region of the spine. A kyphotic posture can give someone a hunched over and round shouldered look, and is fairly common among adults who spend the majority of their time sitting at desks. This paper gives details of a case study that explores the effects of the BASI Pilates method on a kyphotic posture. It will conclude that with regular Pilates sessions, the muscular imbalances that cause Kyphosis can be addressed, and the posture improved.

Kyphosis is a spinal disorder in which an excessive outward curve of the spine results in an abnormal rounding of the upper back. The condition is sometimes known as “roundback”. Kyphosis can occur at any age but is common during adolescence. In most cases, kyphosis causes few problems and does not require treatment. Occasionally, a patient may need to wear a back brace or od exercises to improve his or her posture and strengthen the spine. In severe cases, however, kyphosis can be painful, cause significant spinal deformity, and lead to breathing problems. This paper focuses on a case study of a 40+ female, diagnosed with postural kyphosis as a teenager, who is looking for an exercise program that would help to improve her posture, strengthen her back, and help alleviate occasional pain in thoracic and lumbar spine. We will look at how the BASI approach to the Pilates method can help us achieve those goals.

Kyphosis involves an increased thoracic curve of the spine, it reduce the load capacity of the spine. Nowadays, the teenagers’ kyphosis phenomenon is becoming more and more common in China and presents a trend of low age. Kyphosis not only affects the personal image temperament, but also affects the normal growth and development of the spine and even affects the health of the body. The main reason for the Kyphosis of Chinese young people is to keep the incorrect posture for a long time, lack of exercise, and have too much mental pressure. That cause their weak thoracic extensors and tight anterior shoulder muscles. Based on my research, I was able to develop a safe Pilates program for teenagers to correct the kyphosis using the BASI Block System which has dramatically improved their posture and self-confident.

Pilates is a great way to help women protected and strengthen their body while they are pregnant. Pilates focuses on postural alignment, core strength, and overall muscle balance. In this paper I’m going to talk about the influence and change of pregnancy on the body, and changes in body posture. Next, I’m talking about the cause of the lower back pain after birth and I will also include a conditioning program utilizing the Block System from BASI.

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knees is a debilitating condition affecting everyday movements. Typical daily activities of the average person can become obstacles that otherwise would be unnoticeable with healthy knees. Walking can be painful, stairs may feel more like you are climbing a mountain, getting up out of a soft chair may seem impossible at times. Pain from OA may lead to a sedentary lifestyle, that can cause weight gain, loss of muscle mass and depression (website #1). Surgery is generally required for reconstruction of the knee. Post-surgery can in the beginning be just as challenging as the client will need to learn how to walk with new knees. Pilates post rehab can help continue the healing process, the workouts can help strengthen and lengthen the muscles in a safe manner. The BASI block system can help client’s knees perform their function without unnecessary stress, while enabling the client to receive a total body workout in every session. This paper will provide a summary of the use of Pilates using the BASI block system prior to the clients’ knee replacement and post knee replacement routines.