Case Study: Pilates Rehabilitation for Herniated Lumbar Disc
Introduction
The client presents with lower back pain, alternating hip pain with sciatica. This client experienced a left sided rear end on the freeway and is seeing a physical therapist once a week, chiropractor once a week and a pain management specialist as needed at the start of the programing. Later one had tapered down to one visit a month with Chiro and no longer seeing physical therapists.
History
Client has movement experience only in skating and has never done weight training or pilates in the past.
Challenges
Client find engagement difficult to feel within their body and often felt discouraged by the previous experience in physical therapy.
Pilates Approach
During the first month of pilates sessions twice a week the client focused on lumbar-pelvic stability exercises that allow for better control and stability in areas the client had loss feeling in. Due to the instability in the clients hips and back many of the focused routines in the first week including home exercise program were focusing on flat back exercises into hip strength.
Exercises Used:
Mat Pilates stretches
Mat Pilates abdominal exercises
Reformer footwork
Reformer glute supine series
Rolling out as needed
Reformer supine abdominal series
Reformer short box abdominal series
Reformer supine hip work
Results
After 3 months of twice a week sessions and several levels of home exercise programs the client has been cleared to start pilates group reformer classes to continue strength and goal to return to skating and building back up to tricks previously able to do. Driving and twisting no longer causes issues or flare ups and occasionally will notice some discomfort in side over positions on the reformer. However the client has learned to modify as needed when these occur without issues.
