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Osteopathy and Pilates: Complementary Paths to Health and Well-being
Osteopathy and Pilates: Complementary Paths to Health and Well-being
Osteopathy and Pilates are two distinct approaches to health and wellness that share a common philosophy: the belief that the body functions best when its systems are in balance and alignment. Both focus on improving posture, promoting flexibility, and enhancing overall body mechanics. However, they differ in methodology and practice, which makes their combination especially beneficial for physical rehabilitation, injury prevention, and holistic well-being.
This article explores the similarities and unique benefits of osteopathy and Pilates, and how they can work together to promote optimal health.
Osteopathy: A Holistic Approach to Health
Osteopathy is a branch of manual medicine that focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing health issues by manipulating and strengthening the musculoskeletal framework. Founded in the late 19th century by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, osteopathy emphasizes the relationship between the body’s structure and its function. It operates on the principle that the body has an inherent ability to heal itself when its systems—musculoskeletal, circulatory, and nervous—are in balance.
Key Concepts of Osteopathy:
Holistic Treatment: Osteopathy treats the body as an integrated whole rather than focusing on specific symptoms. Osteopaths aim to identify and address the root causes of pain or dysfunction, whether they originate from muscular, skeletal, or even organ-related issues.
Manual Therapy: Osteopaths use hands-on techniques to assess and treat the body. These include soft tissue massage, stretching, joint mobilization, and manipulation to promote circulation, reduce tension, and restore normal body mechanics.
Self-Healing Philosophy: Osteopaths believe that the body is naturally capable of healing itself if given the right conditions. Their interventions focus on removing barriers to self-healing, such as poor posture, muscle tightness, or misalignment in the spine or joints.
Prevention and Maintenance: Beyond treating symptoms, osteopathy emphasizes preventive care. It encourages patients to maintain healthy body mechanics and avoid lifestyle habits that could lead to further issues, such as poor posture, prolonged sitting, or repetitive strain.
Pilates: Strength and Control through Movement
Pilates, developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates, is a physical fitness system that focuses on strengthening the body’s core muscles, improving flexibility, and enhancing overall body control. Initially designed for rehabilitation, Pilates has evolved into a mainstream exercise method practiced by individuals of all fitness levels.
Key Concepts of Pilates:
Core Strength: At the heart of Pilates is the concept of building core strength, which includes the muscles of the abdomen, lower back, hips, and pelvis. These muscles, often referred to as the “powerhouse,” are crucial for stabilizing the body during movement and maintaining good posture.
Controlled Movement: Pilates emphasizes slow, controlled movements that require mental focus and precision. It’s less about the number of repetitions and more about performing each exercise with proper alignment and muscle engagement.
Flexibility and Mobility: Pilates incorporates a range of exercises designed to improve joint mobility and flexibility, particularly in the spine. Stretching is integrated with strengthening to maintain a healthy range of motion.
Body Awareness: Pilates encourages mindfulness and an acute awareness of how the body moves. This heightened body awareness helps individuals recognize imbalances, poor movement patterns, or misalignments that could contribute to discomfort or injury.
Similarities Between Osteopathy and Pilates
Though distinct in their approach—osteopathy being a medical treatment and Pilates a fitness method—there are several shared principles between the two:
Focus on Alignment and Posture: Both osteopathy and Pilates emphasize the importance of correct alignment and posture for overall health. In osteopathy, poor posture is often the underlying cause of musculoskeletal pain or dysfunction. Similarly, Pilates trains the body to maintain good posture through core strength and proper movement patterns.
Holistic Approach to the Body: Osteopathy and Pilates view the body as an interconnected system. Osteopathy treats the entire body, understanding that dysfunction in one area can affect other parts. Pilates, too, works on improving coordination and balance across the body, emphasizing that every movement should come from a strong and stable center.
Rehabilitation and Injury Prevention: Osteopathy is widely used in rehabilitation to treat injuries and chronic pain conditions. Pilates was initially developed as a rehabilitative exercise for injured soldiers and dancers. Both focus on restoring normal function to the body, with Pilates providing an ongoing method of strengthening and conditioning after osteopathic treatment.
Mind-Body Connection: Both disciplines encourage a mindful approach to the body. Osteopaths may help patients develop better body awareness to identify problematic movement patterns, while Pilates promotes mindfulness through breathing and concentration, ensuring that each movement is performed with intent and control.
Benefits of Combining Osteopathy and Pilates
The integration of osteopathy and Pilates can provide comprehensive health benefits, particularly for individuals dealing with chronic pain, poor posture, or injury recovery. By working together, these practices offer a well-rounded approach to restoring and maintaining physical health.
1. Enhanced Posture and Alignment
Pilates is an excellent complement to osteopathy’s focus on alignment. While osteopaths can manually correct misalignments and restrictions in the body, Pilates helps individuals maintain these corrections by strengthening the muscles that support the skeletal system. By engaging in regular Pilates exercises, patients can build strength in key areas like the core, shoulders, and back, which helps prevent future misalignments.
2. Improved Mobility and Flexibility
Osteopathic treatment can release restrictions in the joints and soft tissues, restoring movement where it may have been limited. Pilates helps to maintain and further enhance this flexibility through controlled stretching and mobility exercises. This combination is particularly beneficial for those recovering from injuries or suffering from chronic conditions like arthritis or lower back pain.
3. Injury Prevention
One of the goals of osteopathy is to identify and address areas of the body that are prone to injury due to poor movement patterns or imbalances. Pilates, by reinforcing core stability and body awareness, helps individuals move in ways that are safer and more efficient. This reduces the likelihood of re-injury, particularly in individuals who are prone to overuse injuries or those recovering from surgery.
4. Pain Relief and Long-Term Recovery
Osteopathy provides immediate pain relief by addressing the physical causes of discomfort, whether through spinal manipulation, joint mobilization, or soft tissue massage. Pilates helps in the long-term recovery process by encouraging a healthy movement routine that strengthens the body, improves flexibility, and reduces the chance of pain recurring. It is particularly helpful for those with chronic conditions like scoliosis or sciatica, as Pilates can be adapted to their specific needs.
5. Holistic Health and Well-Being
Osteopathy’s holistic approach extends beyond musculoskeletal health, considering the impact of lifestyle factors such as stress, sleep, and diet. Pilates adds to this by promoting mental well-being through mindful movement and breath control. The combination of both practices supports physical, mental, and emotional health.
Conclusion
Osteopathy and Pilates are complementary therapies that, when combined, provide a comprehensive approach to health, rehabilitation, and injury prevention. Osteopathy’s medical foundation in manual therapy, alignment, and holistic care pairs seamlessly with Pilates’ focus on core strength, posture, and mindful movement. Together, they empower individuals to not only recover from injuries but also maintain long-term physical health and well-being. Whether seeking relief from chronic pain, recovering from an injury, or looking to enhance physical fitness, the integration of osteopathy and Pilates offers a well-rounded path to a healthier, more balanced life.
Clinical Pilates VS Reformer Pilates: Which Pilates is right for you?
Clinical VS Reformer
There has been an explosion in the popularity of Pilates across Australia in recent years which has lead to a significant increase in the number of studios opening. Considering Pilates has been around for over 100 years some might say “it’s about time”. There seems to be a new studio popping up almost weekly at the moment. Obviously demand for Pilates has never been higher, which, as Pilates enthusiasts and instructors for 15+ years, warms our heart. However, there is some confusion as to the different forms of Pilates out there, including which studio offers what type of Pilates, and what Pilates is the best fit for you?The term Pilates means a lot more now than it did 30 years ago with all of the variations that have grown off the central Pilates branch. Imagine walking up to a barista and saying “I’d like a coffee please!”. I’m pretty sure you’d receive a blank stare quickly followed by the response “what type of coffee would that be?”. Well, if you called up a studio these days and said “I want to do Pilates please” you’d get a pretty similar response. So after managing to blend 2 of things I absolutely love - Coffee and Pilates - I’d like to clarify that the aim of this blog is to give an in depth rundown on the 2 most popular forms of Pilates: Clinical and Reformer.
Clinical Pilates and Reformer Pilates both focus on integrating the core, breath and correct from into all movements, however, they differ in approach and application. Let’s take a dive into how they each suit the different needs of individuals:
Clinical Pilates is characterised by individual programs, smaller class sizes and addressing a patients specific needs and goals. It's often guided by an Allied Health professional or Clinical Pilates instructor who have completed a 1-2 year diploma (depending on the level of training organisation). Your instructor will tailor exercises to address specific injuries, conditions or goals with an emphasis on correcting movement patterns and improving functional outcomes. Keep mind that, even though Clinical Pilates is excellent for people with musculoskeletal conditions, you don’t need any injuries to do Clinical Pilates. We have many patients who come in and enjoy having their own customised program designed around their goal of maintaining or improving general health and wellness.
Reformer Pilates, on the other hand, utilizes the reformer machine to perform exercises that enhance strength, flexibility, and balance. While it can be therapeutic, it is often practiced in a fitness setting and typically doesn’t target rehabilitation. There are generally larger class sizes in Reformer Pilates with classes reaching up to 20+. Due to larger classes, there is obviously less focus on an individuals form and technique relative to Clinical, however they are typically cheaper once you’ve done a few classes and gained confidence on the machines you’ll understand why it’s so popular. With a stronger focus on faster movements, more repetitions and increased resistance, Reformer Pilates can provide benefits that include weight loss, muscle tone, and improved cardiovascular fitness.
Let’s run through some points of interest as we continue to compare and contrast Clinical & Reformer Pilates:
- Assessment: An assessment is required prior to entering Clinical Pilates classes. This is important as program design is based of assessment results (and other factors such as goals, experience ect.). An assessment isn’t performed for Reformer Classes.
- Individual programs: Reformer Pilates is a group fitness setting meaning that everyone performs the same exercises together as prescribed by the instructor. Minor variations can be made for individuals. In Clinical Pilates, programs are designed and customised for each individual based on a number of factors. Programs are always evolving depending on progress, suitability and personal preferences.
- Use of Pilates machines: As the name suggests Reformer Pilates is performed on the Reformer. All machines/apparatus and props can be used in Clinical.
- Suitable for beginners: Both forms of Pilates are suitable for beginners.
- Suitable for injuries: If you are carrying an injury then Clinical Pilates is the best option. Exercises will be prescribed and modified to help with recovery. With Reformer – if a client has any injuries that may result in movement limitations (and hence their ability to complete exercises sufficiently), it’s generally recommended to avoid until those limitations have resolved.
- Caters for all levels: Big yes to both.
- Cost: Reformer Pilates is typically cheaper and more cost-effective than Clinical due to the larger class sizes, whereas Clinical is slightly more expensive due to the further level of training required for instructors, the detail required in programs and more intimate class sizes.
- Instructor training: Due to the greater amount of machines (Reformer, Trapeze/Cadillac, Chair, Ladder Barrel, Spine Corrector, Mat) there is more training required for Clinical relative to Reformer.
- GP referrals: Most referrals from GP’s and medical clinics are typically for rehab applications, therefore much more suited to Clinical Pilates. Again, in the absence of injuries or significant movement limitations, Reformer can also be an effective referral option.
- Class times: Clinical Pilates is usually run during business hours, whereas Reformer Classes are most busy before and after work hours, but can be run at any time during the day.
- Class sizes: Reformer Classes will range anywhere between 5-20 participants, whilst Clinical Pilates are characterised by smaller class sizes ranging from 1-5.
In summary, Clinical Pilates is more individualized towards the patients’ needs and personal goals, while Reformer Pilates is generally more group fitness-oriented. Both are great. One will most likely suit you over the other. Hopefully this article will help give you more knowledge to make an informed decision on which type of Pilates aligns with you and your health goals.
Clinical Pilates VS Reformer Pilates: Comparison Chart
REFORMER PILATES: WHAT IS IT? WHO’S IT FOR? AND HOW TO GET STARTED!
You’ve heard your mum, hairdresser and neighbour talk about how much they love their Pilates Classes, but you really don’t know what it is or if it’s right for you!
Well you’re in luck, because today we are about to tell you all the things you ought to know about Reformer Pilates and if it’s the right thing for you and your body.
First things first!
What is a Pilates Reformer?
The Reformer is the name for the piece of equipment pictured below it’s main components are the carriage, springs, straps and the footbar (shown below)
Reformer Components
The Reformer consists of a solid, steady frame (not all are solid timber) and within that frame there are numerous moving parts. Outlined below are some of the individual components that make up a Reformer:
Carriage – the carriage is what you sit, stand, kneel or lay on. It glides up and down and is where the movement for each of the exercises occurs.
Footbar – sounds pretty self explanatory right, that’s where you are wrong, it’s not just feet that rest on this, we have exercises where you rest your hands on here and some exercises don’t use the footbar at all (but where do my feet go we hear you ask? Keep scrolling to find out).
The Springs – these are the resistance (like your weights at the gym) each spring colour corresponds to a different strength. The springs add the resistance to each of your movements!
Use different combinations of springs to get the desired resistance for your particular exercise, unlike your usual weights however making an exercise heavier doesn’t always make it harder in some cases using a lighter spring will in fact challenge you more and maybe even in a different way.
Straps – There are two different sized straps attached to a rope and around a pulley. These straps are where your hands or feet go (but never at the same time). Put some springs on and place your hands or feet in the straps and you can add a challenge to the upper body and the lower body.
What Exercises Can You Do on the Pilates Reformer?
You’ll be amazed by the many ways that you can exercise on the Reformer and quite frankly once you start Pilates on a reformer you’ll wonder where it’s been all your life! #pilatesaddict
You’ll be forgiven for thinking that Pilates on the Reformer is a fad, but they have in fact been around for over 100 years and will no doubt be around for hundreds to come.
The reformer can be used in many different ways to allow you to perform a full body workout, and a Reformer Class at Bay City will give you just that. Our Reformer Classes will give you a great mix of Upper body, lower body and core strengthening exercises as well as stretching & mobility.
Check out the videos below for an example of the kinds of exercises you might find yourself doing in a Reformer Class at Bay City Health Group
Who can do a reformer class at bay City Health Group?
The versatility of the Reformer means that virtually anyone can participate in our reformer classes, You don’t have to be super co-ordinated or really flexible to attend a class. The Reformer exercises are adaptable to each individual and with only a maximum of 5 Reformers in our classes and highly experienced Pilates teachers you’ll always have someone to adjust the exercise to you and your body’s needs.
If you’ve been out of the exercise game for a while and/or never done Pilates before don’t shy away from attending a class, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by just how great you’ll feel and how easily you pick up the exercises.
What’s the Best way to get Started with Reformer Pilates?
If you don’t have any movement limitations, pain or an injury that impacts your day to day function then you can book yourself straight into a Reformer Pilates Class by downloading our app:
*for Apple users click the button below:
*and for Samsung/Android users click this button:
If you are new to Pilates and brand new to the Reformer then we recommend booking into a Beginner Reformer Class. Once you know your way around the reformer and you are feeling up to a bit more of a challenge then the Intermediate Reformer Classes are your next step!
New to Bay City Health Group? It’s your lucky day! You can get your first class with us for FREE (Yep!! Zilch, nada, nothing). All you have to do is download our app (use the link above), create a profile and then select the ‘free first session’ option.
What should I do if I have pain or an injury and still want to do Pilates?
If you do fall into this category then you CAN absolutely still do Pilates with us, we have a team of Physio’s and Osteo’s who are all trained in Pilates. So, not only can we help assess and treat any injuries or ailments you may have, but we can also get you started with an exercise and Pilates program tailored just to you.
If you do have an injury, pain or movement limitations we’d strongly recommend you attend an initial Assessment with one of our team and you may even benefit from some of our Clinical Pilates/Exercise Rehab Sessions. To find out more about this you can visit our Clinical Pilates Page here:
So Now What….???
So now that you know what a Reformer is, you know some of the exercises that you might do in a class and that it’s really not as scary as it might first seem, there’s really only three things you need to do next….
1. Download our APP and check out our timetable.
2. BOOK in for your FIRST FREE session
3. COME TO A CLASS AND JOIN IN THE FUN!
We can’t wait to see you in the studio soon!
And don’t forget if you have any other questions about our classes or anything at all please do not hesitate to call our lovely receptionists on 03 52293220 or send us an email to: team@baycityhealth.com.au
Understanding and Managing Low Back Pain
Overview:
Low Back Pain. The name itself is pretty self-explanatory. It is pain that arises at the lower part of the back that can include all of the structures in the surrounding area. Unfortunately, over 80% of Australians will suffer from back pain at some point in their lifetime, making it by far the most common musculoskeletal complaint. As low back pain is so predominant in our society, along with it comes many myths on diagnosing and managing it. Who hasn’t heard the old ‘slipped disc’ or ‘my back’s out’ analogy before? And for those who suffer from back pain – who hasn’t received advice from their family, their friends and their expert-on-everything-neighbour on what they should be doing to ‘fix’ it? Fortunately, here in Australia we have many fantastic University trained professionals who have their area of expertise to help treat and manage back pain from Surgeons and Doctors to Allied Health professionals such as Osteo’s, Physio’s and Exercise Physiologists and not to mention those who compliment the above such as Pilates instructors, Personal trainers, strength and conditioning trainers and Massage therapist (there are many more that I haven’t listed).
Low back pain comes in many different forms (all of which are discussed below) and will present in many different ways. Some people will have mild pain that doesn’t require treatment, and some will be at the other end of the scale where their back pain is so extreme, they can’t even get out of bed.
Back pain requires a broad approach from health professionals beyond just identifying and treating the symptoms. Often, low back pain is the result of faulty mechanics from above or below the area, hence why it is very important to recognise the causes (not just the symptoms) behind each individuals back pain to appropriately manage their treatment/medication/surgical intervention and exercise/movement/stretching plan.
Symptoms:
Type of Pain: Symptoms of back pain can present in many different ways and can be direct pain at the source or even result in certain types of pain that refer to other parts of the body, such as run down the leg (even as far as the foot). In a consultation, your practitioner will spend time talking to you about your symptoms as it’s very important to understand exactly what you are feeling. The ability to narrow down the symptoms you are feeling goes a long way in helping us form a diagnosis. Below is a list of symptoms commonly used to describe the type of pain occurring to the low back region.
Dull ache
Acute pain that limits your ability to move
Worse on one side or centralised
Short or long term pain
Numbness and tingling down the leg
Pain into the buttocks
Grabbing pain
Muscle spasm
Throbbing
Stabbing pain
Burning pain
Shooting pain
Small area of pain
Large area of pain
Select area of pain but unable to reproduce it with touch
Aggravating movements / activities: People suffering from back pain can find themselves unable to perform everyday activities to the level they are used to. Some may find that quite simple tasks can bring on pain. For example, if leaning down to tie up your shoelaces causes pain in your back and results in numbness/tingling down your leg - the chances you’ve injured an intervertebral disc becomes more likely. Often, patient’s will omit this type of information when filling out new intake forms, or when first describing the nature of their back pain as they don’t think it’s important. Well let me tell you - it is very important! Being able to identify and understand which daily activities exacerbates your symptoms will ‘add another piece to the puzzle’ and help us in forming a diagnosis.
Below is a brief list of common everyday activities that that can aggravate low back pain:
Getting up out of a chair
Tying your shoelaces up
Standing in one place for long periods
Waking up sore after sleep
Long drives in the car
Leaning over in the garden for long periods
Lifting an item and twisting at the same time
Sitting at an office / computer for long periods
Squatting or deadlifts at the gym
Post exercise soreness
Washing the dishes
Walking
Running
Lifting heavy loads
Twisting quickly (with or without load)
Increased strain over time – eg. Repetitive poor posture
Sudden impact to the low back area
Starting a new activity or sport
Walking down stairs
Sitting on a hard surface
Red flags:
Red flags relate to the possibility that something appearing quite simple could in fact be quite serious.
Below are some examples of Red Flags for low back pain:
Numbness and loss of control of bowel and / or bladder (Cauda Equina Syndrome)
Diffuse low back pain that feels ‘deep’ or spreads to the abdomen (Aortic Aneurism)
Sudden back injury that results in the loss of feeling either into the legs or feet (Neurological Impairment)
Ongoing low back pain combined with unexplained weight loss, night sweats, history of cancer (Tumour / Bone cancer)
Conditions of the Low Back:
There are many conditions that can lead to low back pain. Some conditions that result in damage to soft tissue / structures of the low back include but is not limited to the following:
Lumbar Disc bulge (also known as a ‘slipped disc’)
Disc tear
Disc herniation
Disc sequestration
Facet joint restriction / sprain
Muscle spasm / tightness
Muscle strain
Ligament sprain
Vertebral fracture
Pelvic fracture
Sacroiliac (SIJ) sprain
Sciatica
Lower rib fracture
Lower rib sprain (costo-vertebral)
Arthritis / degenerative changes / spondylosis
Spinal canal stenosis
Lateral spinal stenosis / foraminal stenosis
Degenerative disc disease
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolysis
Ankylosing spondylitis
Who gets Back Pain?
As mentioned in our intro - many people suffer from, or will suffer from, low back pain. But who is more likely?
Age - Back pain can affect any one from teenagers onwards, however the older you are the more likely you will be to suffer from low back pain.
Postural issues - Having poor posture doesn’t necessarily equate to back pain, however faulty compensatory patterns that develop around certain types of posture can lead to pain.
Pregnancy - Some women will suffer from back pain relating to their pregnancy. Others will not. And some women can suffer from back pain in one pregnancy and not in another. There are many factors involved.
Occupation heavy lifting - heavy lifting when not performed properly can lead to acute back injuries, or when faulty mechanics are used over a long period can result in earlier onset of degenerative changes to the spine and associated structures.
Occupation office worker - long periods of sitting down at a desk tends to follow a similar pattern:
elevated shoulders
forward carriage of shoulders/arms
rounded posture through the mid-upper back
tight hip flexors / upper thighs
Faulty Movement patterns: Repetitive faulty movements that result in micro-trauma to the low back. A great example of this is having poor lifting techniques that increase the load to the low back, which over time can lead to increased wear and tear (degenerative changes)
Previous back injuries: A history of back pain/injuries increases your chance of suffering future back related pain.
High impact sports: Certain sports can contribute directly to back pain as a result from injury, or indirectly via prolonged stress to the low back from sports such as tennis or golf.
Assessment & diagnosis
When you present to a Health Practitioner such as an Osteopath or Physiotherapist with low back pain, they will take you through a full patient/medical history and a physical assessment in order to narrow down the possibilities to the most likely diagnosis.
Patient History: Thorough patient history where your practitioner will cover all aspects of your low back pain presentation such as when the pain occurred, the location of pain, how it happened, what makes it worse, what makes it better, level of pain, associated symptoms, impacted activities of daily living, lifestyle prior to onset of pain and occupation impact.
Orthopaedic testing: Specific joint testing designed to provoke pain which indicates a certain condition.
Palpation: The use of palpation is subjective but can give the practitioner more information to help form a differential diagnosis. Palpation can help identify tissue texture changes, tightness, stiffness, temperature changes, differences between left and right, lumps, knots and swelling.
Range of motion: Movements of the spine can be broken down into 3 basic plains:
Side-bending (bending to one side)
Rotation (turning around)
Felxion/extension (leaning forwards or backwards)
One of the questions we will always ask is ‘what movement makes the pain worse’. Usually one of these movements will aggravate the pain, therefore giving us a clearer path forward towards a diagnosis. For example – if your pain becomes worse or even shoots pain down the leg when bending forwards the likelihood of a disc injury being the source of pain increases. Whereas if your pain increases when leaning backwards then it is more likely to be a facet joint as the cause of pain.
Diagnostic imaging: X-Ray for fractures, alignment, spacing, inflammation; MRI for all structures including connective tissue such as ligaments/tendons/discs/muscle; Ultrasound for superficial soft tissue such as muscles and tendons.
Treatment - What We Do
The simplest way do look at what we do here at Bay City Health Group is to think about the 2 sides of a coin. On one side of the coin we provide manual therapy services such as Osteopathy or Physiotherapy to help decrease pain, release tight joints and tissue, and increase range of motion. This is achieved using hands on techniques on treatment tables such as massage, PNF stretching, joint manipulation or adjustments, joint articulation and mobilisation, and myofascial release. On the other side of that coin is Exercise Rehabilitation such as Pilates & Physiotherapy which is performed in a highly specific clinical setting. With Pilates & rehab we aim to retrain faulty movement patterns, educate the patient with correct form, and build strength and mobility to areas of the body where needed. Pilates is a particular focus of Bay City Health Group and is a fantastic option for managing Low Back Pain.
Management and treatment of back pain is highly dependent on the type of symptoms, level of pain, onset of pain, limitations, and assessment findings, and is therefore very specific to the patient on that day. One thing to keep in mind with treatment is there’s no recipe. In other words, the type of treatment will vary from patient to patient depending on what their presentation is. For example, if someone comes into the clinic with acute low back pain and barely able to walk or even sit down, our treatment will be completely different to that of a patient who is a bit sore after a round of golf on the weekend.
Management
What things YOU can do to help back pain when it comes on
Things you can do: Keep moving. It is so important keep your body/spine moving when you 1) currently have low back pain or 2) feel it coming on. It doesn’t have to be your regular everyday type activities, but even movements such as gently allowing your knees to go from side to side whilst lying on your back can help maintain range of motion in the facet joints of the spine. Here is a couple of very basic and general tips (please see a health professional for more specific exercises and stretches catered for your body and type of injury/pain):
Squeeze your buttocks when moving from a sit to stand posture.
Pull your belly button in and try and activate your abdominal muscle group prior to any movement
Nothing replaces the knowledge and experience of Health professionals. This blog is for general educational purposes only and is aimed at the general public. If you have back pain and you think it needs to be looked at then please visit or talk a Health Professional.
To make a booking with one of the Health Professionals here at Bay City Health Group please call our friendly receptionists on 03 5229 3220 or head to our online bookings page to book your appointment online.
Changes to Pilates Health Rebates
Changes to Pilates Health Rebates: As of 1st April 2019, the Australian government has changed what services they deem claimable through health insurance rebates. There was an extensive list of services that have been cut including Naturopathy & Homeopathy to name a couple. Unfortunately, Pilates has also been completely removed from the Health Insurance benefits scheme – meaning you will no longer be able to claim Pilates services through your Health Insurance. This affects any level of Pilates instructor and also registered health practitioners who use Pilates as part of their treatment and management – such as Physiotherapists. This is a real shame as Pilates is a form of movement and exercise which has many proven benefits.
The changes being made won’t affect us too much here at Bay City Health Group. As most of you know, our Osteopaths ran the Clinical Pilates side of things meaning that you could claim through Osteopathy. For those of you who were participating in and claiming our (previous) Clinical Pilates services you will still be able to claim – but not as Pilates. We fortunately had quite a bit of notice about this and have therefore adapted and upgraded our services, clinical notes and equipment to meet the requirements of these new changes. For those still wishing to claim – we have replaced the previous ‘Clinical Pilates with an Osteopath’ to ‘Osteopathy with Clinical Exercise’ (note the absence of the word Pilates). For those who don’t have Health Insurance - don’t worry - Clinical Pilates is still an option, you just won’t be able to claim. Also, we plan on putting on some Pilates Instructors in the near future (who will not be Osteopaths) which is why Clinical Pilates will absolutely stay as one of our services.
To be clear – we will now have 2 branches of clinical movement/exercise:
1. Osteopathy with Clinical Exercise: (CAN claim Private Health rebates)
2. Clinical Pilates (CAN NOT claim Private Health rebates)
If there are any questions whatsoever, please feel to call us and we will be able to clear things up.
