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Pilates
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PILATES AT RAINHAM PHYSIOTHERAPY CENTRE serving the people of Medway; including Strood , Chatham, Rochester, Gillingham , Rainham, Hempstead and Wigmore and surrounding areas including Maidstone Sittingbourne Dartford and Gravesend.
Sandra Lamb is a Chartered Physiotherapist with 25 years experience of treating Musculo-skeletal conditions and is also a fully qualified Pilates Instructor. She uses the Pilates concept to treat people with back pain, neck pain, including variety of spinal pains such as Sciatica, whiplash, spondylosis and painful arthritis.
WHAT IS PILATES?
Pilates is an exercise programme which focuses on developing core muscle strength, flexibility and posture control. Regular practice of Pilates can help prevent back pain and neck pain.
HOW CAN PILATES HELP BACK PAIN OR NECK PAIN? Pilates focuses on finding your ‘neutral spinal posture’ and on teaching you how to use the deep stabilising muscles and so develops an improved balance of the muscle control around the spine. CAN ANYONE DO PILATES Pilates can be included as part of your physiotherapy package, it can be offered as a specific one to one Pilates tuition session or can be as part of a class. FOR MORE INFORMATION
Often back or neck pain can be caused by weakness of the deep stabilising or ‘core muscles’ that support the spine. These muscles can become weak if you have had previous episodes of spinal pain and also if you spend a lot of time in a poor posture. 
This is often the case if your lifestyle requires long periods of sitting or standing or involves repeated stress on your spine such as lots of lifting or carrying. If the spine is not supported correctly by the deep stabilising muscles excessive stress can be placed through the joints which can result in pain and stiffness in the back, neck and shoulders , hips, knees and feet. Often if these muscles are weak you will find that other muscles, that are designed to move your spine, will be over worked in an attempt to support the spine and these muscle will also become tight and painful - often described as a muscle imbalance.
WHAT ARE THE EXERCISES INVOLVED IN PILATES? The Pilates mat work programme includes strength, mobility and stretching exercises – the intensity of which is increased gradually. As you become more familiar with the movement patterns and your strength increases you will be able to move to more challenging movements. However, the emphasis is always on control of a neutral spinal posture and this must not be lost at the expense of progression of the exercise. Clear guidance will be given to ensure you are carrying out the exercise correctly.
Pilates can be done by anyone and at any age. However, we may need to carry out a one to one assessment to be sure that it’s ok for you to begin Pilates. 
For more information about how Pilates can help you please contact Sandra Lamb at the Rainham Physiotherapy Centre on 01634 377638.
