Pilates Exercises – Are Your Pilates Reformer Exercises Pelvic Floor Safe?

This Pilates exercises Physiotherapist article outlines 7 Pilates exercises using equipment to avoid or modify with pelvic floor dysfunction.

Pilates studio exercises use specific Pilates equipment to perform a wide range of Pilates exercises. The traditional equipment developed by Joseph Pilates comprises: The Cadillac (or trapeze table), The Reformer (shown here), the Wunda Chair, Low and High barrels and a variety of small apparatus.

Studios offer individual and small group exercise sessions that usually involve a ‘tailored’ exercise program to suit the client’s needs. Some Pilates studios and gyms offer ‘Reformer classes’ where multiple, low to the ground or ‘a ll egro’ reformers are used and clients all work together.

The Pelvic floor muscles are part of our ‘Deep Core’ muscles and can be difficult sometimes to activate and maintain in a co-ordinated way when we add in the more demanding mat and studio exercises.

Studio equipment based Pilates exercises can be an excellent way to assist and control some of these more demanding mat exercises. All the Pilates exercises listed below are great if you are able to maintain your pelvic floor muscle lift and breathing control. These exercises can have the potential to increase pressure upon the pelvic floor.

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7 Pilates exercises – equipment with potential for pelvic floor dysfunction

Pilates exercises – Reformer based

1. Supine Arm series

2. Standing side split series

3. Long stretch series

4. Quadruped

5. Reverse abdominals

Pilates exercises – Cadillac (trapeze table)

6. Rolling down

7. Teaser prep

These exercises are all described in detail below. They are commonly taught, and often in ‘group reformer classes’. With the exception of the long stretch series these studio exercises if modified correctly can be used to assist clients with pelvic floor dysfunction.

A. Pilates Reformer exercises and pelvic floor safe exercise

1. Supine Arm Series

This exercise is performed lying on your back on the reformer with legs in ‘table top’ position. Hands are holding the reformer straps and a series of arm pulling exercises are performed.

The ‘tabletop’ position is a difficult position for some women to maintain.

The added load of moving the reformer against spring and body weight resistance may increase the IAP (intra abdominal pressure) and overload causing downward pressure on the pelvic floor muscles.

2. Standing Side Split Series

This exercise is performed in standing sideways. The standing legs ‘open wide’ position may be too much of a challenge for some women who may brace and bear down with the increased  IAP (intra abdominal pressure) onto their pelvic floor muscles

3. Long Stretch Series

This exercise combines upper body and core strength, similar to the mat push up. The carriage movements will alter the intensity of this challenging ‘Core’ exercise.

This exercise position into ‘plank’ may cause raised IAP (intra abdominal pressure) beyond the strength of the pelvic floor muscles.

4. Quadruped

This exercise is performed on all 4s and is a great progression from lying on your back, to hands and knees. The carriage is moved out and in by using coordinated movements that challenge the trunk and upper body strength.

This all fours position is often used in Pilates exercise and is an excellent alternative to sitting when gaining awareness and control of the pelvic floor muscles. The resistance of the springs, outward distance of the carriage and speed are all factors that may overload the pelvic floor muscles.

5. Reverse Abdominals

This exercise facing the head end of the reformer uses the movement of the hips and knees on the carriage to strengthen the Rectus Abdominis (or “six pack muscles”)

In this pelvic floor muscle ‘aware’ position of 4 point kneeling; the whole trunk is working. Care must be taken not to overload the pelvic floor in an attempt to ‘work’ the ‘six pack’.

B. Cadillac exercises and pelvic floor safe exercise

6. Rolling Down.

This exercise performed on the Cadillac is an assisted abdominal roll down using springs and a bar to help support the trunk movement.

Care must be taken not to hold the breathe and lose the pelvic floor muscle connection on the concentric roll up phase of the exercise

7. Teaser Prep

This mini roll-up on the Cadillac uses the push through bar and springs to assist the chest raise.

Keeping neutral spine and working through a small range with  adequate spring support will help to avoid excessive increases in  IAP (intra- abdominal pressure)

If you are concerned that your Pilates exercises may be too demanding for your pelvic floor then seek help from a Women’s Health Physiotherapist working with your Pilates teacher.

Expert article with many thanks to Vanea Atwood Physiotherapist in Women’s Health. Vanea practices at Sports Focus Physiotherapy on Sydney’s lower North Shore, in the suburb of Northbridge. www.sportsfocusphysio.com.au

ABOUT THE AUTHOR, Vanea Attwood

Vanea Attwood is a physiotherapist with qualifications in Pilates in addition to specialised training in continence and women’s health. She has a special interest in assessment and treatment of women with concerns about their pelvic floor muscle function. She combines her assessment skills in Women’s Health together with her Pilates and exercise rehabilitation knowledge to empower women of all ages to exercise in a ‘pelvic floor safe’ way. Vanea is passionate about helping other exercise health professionals understand the need for ‘pelvic floor first’ education when dealing with women of al ages.