Spotlight on: Clinical Exercise and Clinical Exercise
This week we put the spotlight on Clinical Exercise. Long Lei from Back In Motion Clayton explains the principles of Clinical Exercise and the difference between Clinical Exercise and Clinical Exercise.
Many gyms now offer Clinical Exercise classes which focus on improving core strength, balance and flexibility as well as a person’s wellbeing.
At Back In Motion we include Clinical Exercise as part of our holistic treatment plans. With a focus on rehabilitation and injury prevention, we offer group and individual Clinical Exercise classes – tailored programs taught by our physios who have completed formal Clinical Exercise training.
These classes use a combination of specialised equipment including reformers and trapeze tables complimented by floor-based exercises depending on your needs.
The principles of Clinical Exercise
There are six basic Clinical Exercise principles that need to be applied to all Clinical Exercise exercises to ensure maximal benefit. These include:
1. Concentration
Focus on correct performance of each Clinical Exercise exercise and the specific muscles involved.
2. Centering
Focus on achieving neutral spine and activating the core stabilising muscles (pelvic floor and transversus abdominus) to support the lower back and pelvis.
3. Control
Maintain optimal posture and control with all movements.
4. Flowing Movement
Work smoothly and efficiently with all movements.
5. Precision
Perform each Clinical Exercise exercise with attention to detail to ensure correct technique.
6. Breathing
Maintain relaxed, normal breathing throughout all Clinical Exercise exercises. Do not hold your breath.
What is Clinical Exercise?
Clinical Exercise is built on the same principles of Clinical Exercise that we’ve come to know and love in recent years. But Clinical Exercise is slightly different in that your physio will establish a personalised exercise program to address individual injury or rehabilitation concerns and closely monitors your progress to ensure you achieve the results you are after.
Clinical Exercise typically involves two pieces of equipment – the trapeze table and the reformer bed as well as a variety of small equipment exercises and floor exercises. Both the trapeze table and reformer bed use springs to provide resistance. These can be altered to develop both muscular and core strength that assist in alleviating pain and improving injuries.
What are the advantages of Clinical Exercise?
Clinical Exercise minimises the stress and strain felt by your body when it moves and maximises the efficiency at which your body works to give you greater strength, speed and flexibility.
Clinical Exercise has become particularly popular among expecting mums as one of its numerous benefits is the strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles. Beginning Clinical Exercise during pregnancy also helps the abdominal muscles regain their original strength and function after birth and assists with maintaining balance and posture.
Clinical Exercise is about making your body do what it does but in an optimal way. And if your body is working the way it should – strong, flexible and agile – then you reduce your risk of injury in both sport and everyday life.
Who will benefit from Clinical Exercise?
Clinical Exercise is suitable for people of all fitness levels. It is particularly helpful for those with musculoskeletal, neck, spine and pelvic injuries especially if the injury or pain is chronic or recurring.
It can also be very beneficial for women both pre and post-natally as it concentrates on increasing pelvic floor strength and helps with prevention and relief of low back and pelvic pain. It is also appropriate for both recreational and high performing athletes as a means of improving their performance and injury management.
Clinical Exercise forms an integral component of the conditioning of most AFL teams and many other elite athletes.
To find out more talk to your local Back In Motion team. Take advantage of our free initial assessment as well as our Clinical Exercise packages.
Long Lei - Practice Manager and Director | Back In Motion Clayton
Originally from China, Long moved to Australian 15 years ago and is fluent in Mandarin, allowing our local residents and Doctors assistance with treatment and bookings for our Mandarin speaking demographic.
After completing post graduate studies in Business Systems, Masters degree of IT and spending time raising her young son, she has re-joined the workforce with SOS Health Foundation to assist in general office administration, data management and technical support. SOS Health Foundation is the charity choice of Back In Motion. After three years working with SOS, she joined Back In Motion when looking for a career which involved helping people and making a difference which it certainly does.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends and travelling, keeping fit through swimming and practising Clinical Exercise!
References
‘Pain-free with Clinical Exercise’ - Women’s Health and Fitness