Pilates Rehabilitation for Post Disc Surgery: Case Study

Introduction

Client had disc surgery with minor complications 6 months prior to starting pilates based exercises with Julie. Client had completed almost 6 months of sports based physical therapy with a licensed doctor and was given the opportunity to discharge and use pilates to improve overall lifestyle. Within four weeks of pilates based strength training with Julie client has seen improvements in overall strength, mobility and reduced nerve symptoms in daily life especially at work and sitting.

History

Client has a past history with water polo and has body awareness and mindfulness prior to starting Pilates. Initially the client came in with daily nerve pinching symptoms related to disc surgery and while participating in sports based physical therapy. The onset of the damaged disc was caused from improper lifting mechanics from barbell squat rack and a history of a sports hernia.

The Challenge

Client had felt a plateau in their recovery and with physical therapy. With the new career and job duties mainly being at a desk the client needed to adjust their work station with a sit to stand desk and was given physical therapy stretches to do when the symptoms of nerve pinching begin. They faced challenges with keeping up physical therapy routine that has been ongoing for more than 6 months. They also needed to learn a deeper abdominal control with diaphragmatic breathing techniques and took time to learn.

The Pilates Approach

The client is being seen twice a week for pilates based exercises with Julie. They are continuing with one day of an abdominal strength day with endurance and mobility with another day focused on overall mobility and glute strength. The client has seen a large improvement in the 4 weeks of two sessions a week in addition to his home gym workouts that are focused on upper body exercises.

Exercises used:

• Reformer based abdominal supine arms, hundred prep, hundred prep with leg extensions modified, and sitting box abdominal work.

• Reformer based glute work foot presses with fabric glute bands of various strengths overtime, clams, pulses, bridges, and hamstring curls

• Reformer based mobility hip work (aka feet in loops), circles, frogs, peter pan, stretches

• Pilates step barrel for quad and hipflexor stretching

• Pilates reformer for hamstring stretching standing