Health & Fitness
Pilates in Practice
By Debbie Dillman
A growing number of chiropractors are pursuing a passion for a decades-old exercise method to move their practices and their patients into a healthier future. “Our goal is to get people to take responsibility for themselves,” says New Jersey chiropractor Eric Nelson. “We do that by teaching them the right exercises.” For Nelson and many of his colleagues, Pilates is that exercise.
Joseph Pilates originally called his series of exercises “Contrology,” the basic belief being that the mind could control the muscles. Eventually taking on his name, Pilates focuses on the core muscles that help keep the body in balance, along with breathing techniques, building support for the spine and teaching proper movement. During World War I, Joseph Pilates used his techniques by equipping hospital beds with springs so wounded soldiers could exercise with resistance, helping in their recovery. These were the first known Pilates machines. The German-born Pilates then migrated to the United States in the early 1920s, where dancers took notice of his posture-perfecting exercise routine.
Pilates seems to be a perfect partner for many chiropractors, especially for those who have previous knowledge of the exercies from a dancing or fitness background. Nelson, a marathon runner and certified Pilates instructor, incorporated the rehabilitative exercise into his practice about five years ago. He says 99 percent of people who come into his office seeking chiropractic care have bad posture. “Because of that, every patient who comes in needs posture exercises,” Nelson says. By offering Pilates, Nelson says patients become more active in their care, they’re more aware of how they move and how their spine is aligned. That means less back pain and fewer adjustments.
>From Nelson’s New Jersey practice to Dr. Diana Salzmann’s Marietta, Ga., studio, the philosophy is basically the same. “I wish chiropractors would take over the delivery of the Pilates industry to the public,” laughs Salzmann, although she is quite serious. She says when Pilates is used in a rehab setting, the instructors are usually more educated and experienced. Salzmann is also a certified Pilates instructor. Like Nelson, this certification didn’t happen in a weekend. Each doctor dedicated a year or more of their lives to the exercise.
“If I can adjust people and teach them to move correctly and articulate each joint in balance, then they don’t need me as often,” Salzmann says.
This may sound like it’s bad for business, but she says her goal isn’t simply to make a living. Her focus is to help her patients, who she actually calls clients, have a better quality of life. In Salzmann’s opinion, Pilates incorporated with chiropractic care can do this.
“First and foremost my job as a chiropractor is to correct the nonmobile (fixated) segments within the subluxation complex. As this re-establishes the movement into that segment, Pilates teaches the individual to move with more correct mechanics thus, maintaining the proper movement previously corrected. So I suppose in short: Chiropractic re-establishes normal segmental movement and Pilates [helps to] maintains it,” says Salzmann. “Pilates is the only type exercise that I’ve been involved in that infiltrates everything that you do physically.”
Salzmann plans to take an even bolder step within the year. If her clients want to be adjusted by her, they must incorporate Pilates into their lifestyles. But she also acknowledges Pilates does not take the place of other exercises, such as cardio, or regular chiropractic care.
Salzmann is also in the process of building her highly-trained staff. She plans to eventually franchise her philosophies, helping teach other chiropractors who want to incorporate Pilates into their practices. “I’m so much happier. It’s what I’ve studied to do all my life,” says Salzmann.
A lifelong commitment to dance and health sent Austin, Texas chiropractor Rosanne Butera on a path to Pilates. She opened her practice, which focuses on what she calls a “holistic approach to neck and back pain, 10 years ago.
“It is very important to remember, if you pick things that are not from your belief system, you can’t create a program that continually works and grows,” says Butera. A former dancer, Butera was already familiar with the benefits of Pilates. She employs three Pilates trainers, who are also dancers. Butera requires her trainers to be part of the session with her and her patients. This includes analyzing the patient’s range of motion, muscle weaknesses and posture. Once these are determined, Butera and her trainer can determine which exercise is best suited for the patient.
“We don’t train patients to become Pilates experts, we teach them how to move intelligently and organically,” Butera continues. She also says that one doesn’t work well without the other. It takes both the exercise and the alignments to achieve maximum results. This is a very important goal to a particular group of Butera’s patients. She continues to work with Austin Ballet and dance companies as well as tri-athletes.
Butera, Salzmann and Nelson all practice what they preach. Salzmann’s husband and Nelson’s wife are also avid Pilates believers receiving chiropractic care. In fact, Nelson’s wife is also a Dr. Nelson. She works alongside him in their New Jersey practice as a chiropractor and certified Pilates instructor. All agree the combination of chiropractic and Pilates has improved the quality of their lives, and hope to see the trendy exercise studios welcomed within the profession.
“Being on purpose in my practice by teaching as well as treating keeps me on purpose in patient care and in my philosophy,” says Butera.
She and Nelson incorporate not only Pilates machines but also mat classes. Salzmann sticks to machines in her practice. But all agree, a certified instructor who knows exactly what they’re doing is a must to prevent injury.
All of these doctors would like to see the art of motion move into more practices. They say by making their patients more aware of their bodies, how they’re moving and their alignment will not only help them work more effectively as a unit, but will also help the industry work more effectively. Butera advises others who are thinking of incorporating Pilates into their practices “to determine techniques, define philosophy and set goals.” And of course, get moving.
©2006 Today's Chiropractic