Back pain can be fought and prevented with physiopilates

Can a discipline created for well-being and posture transform into a real therapy? The answer is yes, especially when we talk about Fisiopilates, a clinical version of Pilates designed to prevent and treat musculoskeletal disorders, with benefits also proven by science. Back pain is one of the most common conditions in the world: it affects about 80% of the population at least once in their life and is one of the main causes of absence from work and a reduction in quality of life. But today, between long waiting lists and pharmacological treatments often limited to the symptom alone, more and more 'borderline' patients - not yet covered by the health system or waiting to be taken care of - find a concrete answer in a different path: Clinical Pilates, or Fisiopilates.

When movement becomes medicine

This form of Pilates, adapted to the rehabilitation context, is already widely studied in the scientific field: according to a review published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies , clinical Pilates is effective in improving functionality and reducing pain in patients with chronic low back pain. Similar results have been confirmed by other studies that show how the approach based on core stability , guided breathing and movement education can make a difference.

“It is an activity designed for those who suffer from back pain or have suffered trauma and wear-related injuries – explains physiotherapist Valentina Colusso of the Beata Vergine della Consolata Rehabilitation Hospital in San Maurizio Canavese, where we work with Fisiopilates – but also for those who want to prevent worsening or avoid resorting to more invasive therapies”.

What is it?

In practice, Pilates physiotherapy integrates the principles of the Pilates method into a personalized rehabilitation program. Born as a training technique to improve strength, posture and flexibility, this discipline has evolved to become, in the clinical field, a tool for functional recovery and prevention of relapses in people with musculoskeletal problems. Unlike traditional Pilates practiced in the gym, in Pilates physiotherapy each exercise is selected and adapted based on the patient's condition, under the supervision of a specialized physiotherapist. "The goal," explains Colusso, "is to improve the stability of the trunk and pelvis ( core stability ), teach correct movement, avoid the so-called 'poorly managed gestures' that often trigger relapses or worsen symptoms. Therefore, the outpatient clinic activity includes targeted Fisiopilates programs, a method that combines the principles of physiotherapy with the benefits of Pilates, to improve posture, mobility and muscle tone."

Tailor-made exercises based on the pathology

Unlike traditional Pilates, the exercises are pathology-specific and low intensity, calibrated to the condition of each patient. This approach has proven useful in many clinical conditions: from chronic low back pain and neck pain to post-surgical recovery, from post-injury rehabilitation to pelvic floor problems.

"Rehabilitative Pilates - explains Alessia Piazza , physiotherapist at Auxologico Meda Riabilitazione - represents a therapeutic approach suitable for a wide range of patients: both for subjects in good health who wish to improve body awareness, movement control and strengthening of deep postural muscles, and for people suffering from musculoskeletal or neurological pathologies. It is particularly effective in the treatment of problems such as back pain, joint stiffness, arthrosis and postural alterations linked to a sedentary lifestyle. It also finds application in the neurological field, in the presence of conditions such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis or the outcomes of cerebrovascular events, with the aim of improving balance, coordination and mobility. It is also indicated in gradual retraining for effort, for example for patients with cardiorespiratory pathologies, as well as during pregnancy or in the post-partum period".

Suitable for all ages

Pilates physiotherapy is suitable for people of all ages, including those who are sedentary or spend many hours sitting, but also for athletes who want to improve performance safely or prevent injuries. The gradual nature of the exercises, their slow and precise execution, the centrality of breathing and the work on body awareness make this practice an effective bridge between therapy and well-being.

A tailor-made approach

Fisiopilates groups are usually small (1 to 4 participants) and the sessions are personalized and last one hour. “Our rehabilitative Pilates classes last 60 minutes and are held in small groups, composed of a maximum of four participants,” adds Piazza. “This format allows me to follow each person in a careful and personalized way, providing immediate feedback on the execution of the exercises and adapting them based on the clinical condition and specific objectives. The activity is based on free body exercises performed on the mat, often integrated with the use of small tools such as a ball, foam roller, soft ball, Pilates ring and elastic bands. Among the fundamental exercises I propose, for example, the pelvic tilt , useful for mobilizing the pelvis and stabilizing the lumbar area. Other exercises are aimed at the upper body, with the goal of improving control and stabilization of the shoulder girdle.”