Pregnancy Pilates classes at Kinetic Sports Physiotherapy

A common complaint in ballet dancers, particularly those in ‘pointe’ shoes, is posterior ankle pain (around the Achilles/back of ankle area). When any of us picture a ballet dancer, right up on their toes, it is not hard to visualise how much compression may occur in the posterior ankle. Combined with hours and hours of practice and performance, again it is not hard to see how overload and excessive compression of the structures in the posterior ankle can easily occur. This is known as Posterior impingement syndrome and the structures affected can vary from soft issue to actual bony impingement.

Soft tissues- including the joint capsule, synovium, Kagers fat pad, tendons and ligaments, are most often the source of the pain, inflammation and impingement. When bony impingement is diagnosed through X-ray, there is sometimes an ‘os trigonum’ (oval shaped ossicle) that is presumed to be the cause. However, Susan Mayes, the principal physiotherapist for the Australian Ballet, reports that even when the ossicle is present, more often she finds the soft tissues between these bony prominences are the cause, and surgical removal doesn’t always result in resolution of symptoms for this reason.  Susan Mayes, through her years with the ballet has found that posterior impingement “can be managed conservatively with early and appropriate intervention”.

So what should you do if you suspect that yourself, or someone you know may be suffering from Posterior ankle impingement? Correct and specific diagnosis is absolutely vital. With so many structures in the small region referred to as the ‘posterior ankle’, without correct diagnosis management can be ineffective. At Kinetic Sports Physiotherapy, we pride ourselves on accurate diagnosis and provision of world class treatment. 

Shoulder pain is one of the most frequent complaints that Sports Physiotherapists treat in our overhead and throwing athletes. One of the primary associations with the development of shoulder pain is an increase in throwing volume, speed and or effort in excess of the athletes’ capacity. As Sports Physiotherapists we have a role in not only treating the injury, but also preventing recurrence and improving performance.

In the throwing athlete it has been well established that deficits in shoulder or scapula motion contribute to the development of shoulder pain.  However, this is not the only place we need to look. The remainder of the body, or kinetic chain (all the links between the ground and the ball) play a crucial role in our ability to throw efficiently.

In fact, our legs and trunk contribute more than 50% of the power used in throwing or hitting a tennis ball and it is well established that if this isn’t happening the shoulder gets overloaded.

In 2011, a Norwegian group (Saeterbakken et al) investigated the effect of unstable core stability training on throwing velocity in adolescent handball athletes. This involved core stability exercises using slings similar to a TRX and leg exercises on an unstable surface.

Over the course of six weeks, they were able to show that core stability training produced a significant  increase in throwing velocity when added to normal training.

The authors proposed a number of explanations for the improvements, but regardless of the exact mechanism they demonstrated that core stability training is a powerful tool and an essential part of rehabilitation in the athlete’s shoulder.

Stronger core can mean improved performance and reduced injury risk which is good for everyone. If you would like to discuss this further, please don’t hesitate to call. Simon has over 20 years working with all levels of throwing athletes, from recreational level to our Olympians.

THE SUPERIOR PILATES FOR CORE ACTIVATION AND MOTOR CONTROL

Using a combination of reformer & trapeze machines as well as mat work, clinical Pilates maintains fitness, flexibility & strength during pregnancy in a controlled environment with a Physiotherapist.The programming is strictly individualised, and focuses on motor control and core activation to optimise function, maintain strength and fitness and control pain if required. Kate Antcliff is a very experienced Physiotherapist, working in private practice for over 7 years, and has a specialty in Clinical Pilates.

What is Clinical Pilates?

Clinical Pilates is recognised by health professionals as one of the best forms of exercising to improve functional movement, optimising how your body moves and for management of pain. Clinical Pilates involves construction of an individual program, completion of exercises on varying equipment including the reformer, as well as a basic home exercise program. 

What are the benefits of performing Clinical Pilates during pregnancy and post-partum?

• Maintain fitness, flexibility & strength in a controlled environment with state of the art facilities and a specialised Physiotherapist.
• Individualised program for your specific pre and post- partum needs.
• Activation of core muscles to support pregnancy and manage back pain.
• Core activation without stressing of the abdominal wall or diastasis.
• Re-strengthening of pelvic floor & core through functional exercise.

Kinetic Sports Physiotherapy's Clinical Pilates classes are eligible for health fund rebates.