This is a very frequent question among Pilates practitioners. How should the return to training be when you have surgery?
A: It all depends on the type of surgery. For most orthopedic surgeries – knee, hip, or shoulder – the goal is to get back to activity as soon as possible. This is also true for abdominal surgeries, were walking around the house a day or two after surgery is recommended to help with recovery. Of course, there are exceptions, such as spinal surgeries, and it is very important to follow your doctor’s advice. But the essence is that moving is good.
Moving doesn’t necessarily mean doing Pilates, or more specifically the type of Pilates you were used to doing. In general, the process involves lighter sets at the beginning, then having a more active movement. These phases must be followed with a focus on body awareness and the correct definition of the muscles in the correct pattern. The sequel is gradual strengthening and functional training.
This can all be achieved in Pilates sessions. However, your workout routine and each exercise need to be tailored to your situation. This is the importance of training with an experienced teacher, who knows how to work with injuries and illnesses, has a good understanding of the repertoire that Pilates offers, and knows how to modify training, suppressing some movements.
It’s important to remember that the body needs time to heal. Good nutrition, exercise, good sleep, and positive thinking help a lot, but the fact is that the process can be improved, but not rushed.
Undoubtedly, Pilates can play a fundamental role in our return to everyday life and our athletic activities. After undergoing post-surgery physical therapy and returning to their daily tasks, people are rarely instructed to continue with other exercise programs. Even if they do receive training on paper, let’s face it, without instruction, many people won’t do it, and even with the best intentions, there will inevitably be consequences. There is a big difference between performing daily tasks, such as bathing and combing your hair, and exercising (Pilates, running, cycling, swimming, etc.). This bridge is where Pilates comes, and few training methods, if any, will be as good.