Mr A is a 45 year old van driver who was recommended to try Pilates by his osteopath to help strengthen his core and improve his posture.
After an initial postural assessment and taking some background history, Mr A mentioned he had booked a skiing holiday and really wanted to feel fitter and stronger for his trip to help prevent any injury.We decided that Pilates on the Reformer would be a great way to achieve this, with the spring loaded resistance to strengthen and lengthen muscles .The basic principles of Pilates were taught first then a programme devised to strengthen abdominals quadriceps, glutes and improve scapular stability also ankle stability.
After returning from his skiing holiday injury free, Mr A felt the benefits of Pilates had definitely helped him and continues to attend sessions on a weekly basis.
Case Study – Pilates
A 28 year old gentleman, playing at senior level at one of the local rugby club, presented with a hamstring injury following a training session in mid winter. On further questioning, it seems that this happened at least once or twice every season for the last 8 years. Often this has resolved with some physiotherapy and rest. This time the injury has not settled and was increasingly getting worse.
After an initial assessment, a treatment plan was developed which included intensive physical therapy and rest and some home based hydrotherapy. He missed the rest of that season while he recovered. After full recovery and following further assessments it was found that he also had relatively poor core strength and hip flexors. By adding Pilates (to strengthen the core musculature) and more targeted exercises for his hip flexors to his training program in preparation for the following season.
To date he has not had a recurrence of the hamstring injury (2 seasons and counting) and he feels that he has become stronger and playing with a lot more confidence as he’s not worried about injuring himself.
Case Study – Hamstring Strain
Mr N, a 35 year old electrical engineer, started training in November 2013 for his first marathon in April 2014 . Training progressed well until he started getting low back pain in February 2014. He had increased his training in both frequency and intensity from running twice a week covering 15 miles to running four times a week covering 40 miles.
During his assessment by an osteopath, we found out that he had fractured his femur when he was 20 years old after coming off a motorcycle, and that he had a significant leg length difference which was putting a strain on his sacro iliac joints. Normally the body adapts well but due to his increased training his body couldn’t cope.
He was referred to our podiatrist who used orthotics to minimise the leg length difference and with a few adjustments to his training managed to complete the marathon with minimal discomfort.
This case highlighted the fact that if you are about to embark on any significant physical challenges, it may be worth seeing you musculoskeletal therapist just to ensure potential problems can be avoided or minimised.
Case Study – Marathon Training
A 38 year old, computer programmer, presented to Woodside Clinic with intermittent low back pain that he’d been getting for nearly two years. It was made worse by driving and when seated at his workstation.
He had tried several self-help books and exercises via the Internet but none of that seem to be giving any long-term relief. We examined his spine and observed him sitting behind his desk and in the car and managed to alter his work posture, prescribing specific exercises and changing the position of his car seat, which helped but did not provide him with complete resolution. On further questioning we found out that he does about 200 (two hundred) sit-ups everyday. It turned out that he was doing them incorrectly and putting an undue amount of strain on his back. A simple correction of the exercise have resulted in him being pain free for the last 18 months.
This case highlights the importance of factoring in all aspects of a patients lifestyle and basing the treatment on the individual as a whole rather than just the area causing the symptoms.