Back pain is usually caused by a serious medical condition.

As mentioned above, back pain is rarely caused by a serious condition that will require medical intervention.

Scans are always needed to detect the cause of LBP.

Scans are only necessary in a small number of cases. In fact, scans will often pick-up things that are part of normal, age-related changes in the back that aren’t necessarily the cause of the pain.

Pain during exercise means that exercise is bad and causes more damage.

When back pain persists, that area of the spine can become more sensitive, but this does not indicate tissue damage/further injury. Regular exercise can settle this pain over time and is known to be one of the best ways to treat LBP.

Repetitive lifting and bending causes wear and tear of the structures in my back.

The back is a strong structure that is made to move and bend. Regular movement is good for the spine, as it is with other body parts. Pain related to lifting and bending are safe if they’re done gradually and regularly. Pain related to lifting is often more the result of a sudden increase in load that the body is not used to - e.g. moving house.

LBP is caused by poor posture when sitting, standing and/or lifting.

Research shows that LBP is not caused by poor posture or by a specific way we lift. When we are in pain, there may be certain postures that can exacerbate the sensitive areas but this is not a direct cause of the pain.

Clinical Exercise and Pilates | City Baths Physio Clinic

Emily Fegan

Did you know…

Clinical exercise, often colloquially referred to as Clinical Pilates, isn’t actually Pilates (or more accurately, it isn’t JUST Pilates)! Read on as our physio Emily explains the differences between the two.

Clinical Exercise

Clinical exercise is the prescription of an exercise program by a physiotherapist, which is designed to help the individual rehabilitate an injury, reduce pain, or improve another aspect of their athletic performance – just to name a few benefits!

Making use of a variety of equipment, some of which may be Pilates equipment like reformer beds and trapeze tables, Clinical Exercise can help decrease pain levels, boost strength, increase flexibility, improve joint range of motion, and enhance overall mental and physical health.

Physiotherapists will create a clinical exercise programme that is specifically tailored to each individual’s current injury treatment, as well as their current fitness and strength levels.

During your one-on-one Clinical Exercise consultations, the physiotherapist will assess the individual’s biomechanics, flexibility, and strength.

You may progress to our Group Classes once your physiotherapist is satisfied that your exercise programme is appropriate for your needs.

Clinical Exercise Group classes are still supervised by a physiotherapist, who ensures that all participants perform their exercises with proper posture and biomechanics. This maintains proper muscle activation patterns and targets the areas you want to work on. Because of this constant emphasis on form and function, many people who suffer from recurring niggles or injuries may find Clinical Exercise beneficial in improving these.

Pilates

Pilates uses body weight, Reformers & Trapeze or mat based Pilates equipment to help to improve muscle tone through the abdomen, spine, lower and upper body.

Pilates classes are delivered by professionally trained Pilates instructors, however they may not necessarily be physiotherapists. The instructor takes the class through a routine of exercises, with each participant completing the same exercises and reps as the other class members. The instructor may change the difficulty of exercises to cater for differing levels of a classes’ experience and fitness.

Regular Pilates classes are suitable for individuals who have no current injuries and already have a solid foundation of strength, flexibility, and fitness.

Making your choice

When weighing up between Clinical Exercise and Pilates, consider whether you are looking to generally strengthen and exercise (Pilates), or whether you’d like something more tailored. This could be to strengthen a particular muscle group, enhance your athletic performance or rehab an injury. In this case, Clinical Exercise may be a better option for you.