More than just stretching: Why yoga and Pilates are the perfect complement to physiotherapy

The future of physical therapy seems bright: According to a study by Allied Market Research, the market will grow to $11.2 billion by 2027, not least due to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and injuries. But it's not just the size of the market that's changing, so is the interest in new concepts.

What exactly does this mean for physiotherapists?

The majority of physiotherapy practices worldwide now use digital health technologies that facilitate diagnosis and treatment. We already discussed this topic in more detail in our last blog article.

However, therapy methods are also constantly changing and anyone who wants to stay up to date cannot avoid continuing their education. This is the only way you can meet the growing interest in new concepts and set your offering apart from the competition.

Fill your toolbox

Imagine your work as a toolbox filled with various tools that you can use to improve or restore the health of your patients. Every complaint, every illness requires something different.

Your goal: to equip your toolbox with as much variety as possible in order to be able to deal with every problem.

Conventional therapy is often no longer sufficient and so it is now common for most practices to combine different treatment methods. Yoga and Pilates are particularly popular.

Yoga and Pilates bring a breath of fresh air to your training plan

Physiotherapy is mainly aimed at rehabilitation from injuries or ailments - yoga and Pilates offer further opportunities to move and stretch the body in new ways. The various exercises improve posture, flexibility, strength and endurance and thus help to prevent injuries.

Since millions of people around the world already practice yoga and Pilates privately, the exercises are easier to integrate into everyday life and are a welcome change from traditional methods.

In this blog article we answer the following questions:

1. What is yoga? What is Pilates?
1. The health benefits
2. Will yoga and Pilates replace physiotherapy?
2. Where can yoga and Pilates be used?
1. Exercises for back pain
2. Exercises for rheumatism
3. Exercises after a stroke
4. When is yoga and Pilates not recommended?
3. How can I further my training as a physiotherapist?
4. How do I integrate yoga and Pilates into my practice?
5. The topic summarized

1. What is yoga? What is Pilates?

Yoga and Pilates are forms of exercise that serve to harmonize body and mind and promote health. Both systems emphasize the connection between breathing, movement and mind.

Yoga consists of a combination of breathing exercises, postures and meditation, while Pilates focuses on targeted strengthening and stretching exercises designed to strengthen the core of the body. Both forms of exercise offer a variety of health benefits and can be practiced by people of all ages and fitness levels.

1.1 The health benefits

Anyone who regularly practices yoga or Pilates can enjoy a wide range of physical benefits. Both forms of training have a lot in common:

• they increase flexibility
• they improve balance
• they reduce stress
• they increase well-being

However, there are also some differences, as yoga and Pilates focus on different aspects of physical fitness.

Yoga focuses on stretching and relaxing the muscles. It also focuses a lot on breathing techniques. Pilates, on the other hand, focuses on strengthening the core muscles and stabilizing the spine. Pilates exercises also improve body awareness.

Now you might be thinking: “That all sounds very promising, it covers pretty much everything.” Understandably, the following question then arises:

1.2 Will yoga and Pilates replace physiotherapy?

In short: No. Yoga and Pilates should be seen as a supplement to physiotherapy, not as a replacement. Physiotherapists will continue to be in demand in the future. But it cannot be denied that both forms of training can provide crucial support for therapy.

To give you a clearer picture, we will now look at where exactly yoga and Pilates are useful and which exercises in particular can help.

2. Where can yoga and Pilates be used?

Several factors should be considered before recommending yoga or Pilates to your patients. These include:

1. Type of injury or condition: Yoga and Pilates may be effective for certain injuries or conditions, such as back pain, stress, sleep disorders and arthritis.
2. Fitness level of the patient: Yoga and Pilates require a certain level of physical fitness and flexibility, so the patient's current fitness level should be taken into account.
3. Patient preferences: Some people feel more comfortable with yoga or Pilates than with other exercises. It is important to consider the patient's preferences to ensure successful therapy.
4. Patient goals: Yoga and Pilates exercises can have different goals, such as reducing stress, building muscle, increasing flexibility or relieving pain.

2.1 Exercises for back pain

According to the WHO, around 60 to 70% of people worldwide suffer from back pain at least once in their lives. It is no wonder that this complaint is the second most common cause of incapacity to work and many seek help from a physiotherapist.

Both yoga and Pilates can help relieve back pain. Yoga improves the flexibility and endurance of your patients' muscles. Pilates, on the other hand, strengthens the deep abdominal muscles, which can support and relieve the spine.

Here are some examples of exercises you can recommend to your patients.

Yoga exercises for back pain

• Cat-Cow: This exercise stretches the spine and releases tension in the lower back.
• Cobra: This yoga exercise strengthens the back and abdominal muscles and stretches the chest.
• Child's Pose: This stretches the muscles of the lower back, hips and thighs.

Pilates exercises for back pain

• Bridging: With this exercise, patients can strengthen the lower back as well as the abdominal muscles and thighs.
• Pelvic Tilt: This stabilizes the abdominal muscles and lower back.
• Swimming: This dry exercise strengthens the muscles in the upper and lower back, buttocks and thighs.

2.2 Exercises for rheumatism

Rheumatism is a group of more than 100 different diseases, all of which can affect the connective tissue, joints and muscle tissue. Typical symptoms of rheumatism can be pain, inflammation, stiffness and swelling of the joints. Rheumatism can be triggered by various factors, such as:

• genetic predisposition
• Autoimmune diseases
• injuries.

There is no cure for rheumatism, but there are various treatment options, such as medication, physical therapy and dietary changes, to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life of those affected.

Yoga and Pilates can be used to support mobility, flexibility and muscle strength as well as to promote relaxation and stress reduction.

Yoga exercises for rheumatism

Choose exercises that focus on slow breathing, gentle movements and static postures. These include:

• Warriors I and II
• Tree
• Dog
• Cat-Cow

Pilates exercises for rheumatism

To relieve rheumatic symptoms, exercises that improve posture through gentle stretching and strengthening exercises are suitable. Examples of these include:

• Bridge seat
• Arm and leg change in quadruped position
• Side plank

2.3 Exercises after a stroke

After a stroke, it is important that the affected person undergoes rehabilitation to restore mobility and coordination. Mobility and muscle strength can be strengthened with special exercises.

Attention: It is important that the training is individually tailored to the needs and abilities of the person affected.

Yoga exercises after a stroke

Depending on your needs and abilities, the following exercises can help with rehabilitation:

• Breathing exercises and pranayama exercises: increase the oxygen content in the blood to promote relaxation
• Chest stretch: Yoga exercises that stretch the chest can increase flexibility and improve breathing.
• Cat-Cow: This exercise can help here too. It mobilizes the spine and strengthens the back muscles.

Pilates exercises after a stroke

Depending on the patient, the following exercises may help:

• Sit-ups: They help strengthen the abdominal muscles and improve posture
• Leg raises: This exercise stabilizes the thigh muscles and improves balance
• Pelvic Clock: The pelvic muscles are activated, balance is improved and body awareness is trained

2.4 When is yoga and Pilates not recommended?

There's no doubt about it: Yoga and Pilates are great ways to add variety to your training plan and can be easily done at home. However, these training methods are not always advisable. In certain cases, the exercises can even be harmful.

Yoga and Pilates are not suitable if:

• the patient is suffering from an acute injury or inflammation
• the patient suffers from serious health problems, e.g. osteoporosis, unstable spine, cardiovascular disease

3. How can I further my training as a physiotherapist?

Would you like to learn more about yoga and Pilates? There are various ways to do independent research and further your education.

• Take part in special training courses or workshops. Here you can learn new exercises and techniques and deepen and expand your knowledge.
• Another option is to educate yourself independently using specialist literature and online courses. There are numerous books, e-books, videos and online courses designed specifically for physiotherapists that will help you improve your yoga and Pilates skills.
• Exchange ideas: Experienced colleagues can share knowledge and experiences. It is also possible to receive supervision from an experienced physiotherapist or yoga and Pilates teacher.

4. How do I integrate yoga and Pilates into my practice?

Do you want to expand your services and combine yoga or Pilates with physiotherapy in the future? To do this successfully, you need thorough planning and a well-thought-out concept.

Please note the following points:

1. Space: Consider whether you have enough space in your practice to offer a yoga or Pilates class and whether you can provide the necessary equipment, such as mats and balls.
2. Integration: Consider how you can integrate yoga and Pilates into your existing physical therapy practice. For example, you could offer a regular class or offer yoga and Pilates as a complement to treatments.
3. Communication: Make sure you communicate with your patients what yoga and Pilates are, how you can help, and what to expect from the exercises.

It is important that your patients are well informed and know the benefits of yoga and Pilates. This makes it easier for them to integrate the exercises into their daily routine and thus work with the concept in the long term.

5. The topic summarized

Physiotherapy is a growing market and demand continues to rise. Nevertheless, physiotherapists cannot avoid restructuring their services. Patients today want varied and holistic therapy approaches that are not only effective but also fun.

Both yoga and Pilates are already part of many people’s private training plans, but they also complement conventional physiotherapy by:

• increase flexibility
• Reduce stress
• strengthen the core muscles
• and improve breathing techniques

After you have completed further training in the relevant topic, you can add individual exercises to your patients' individual therapy plans or offer courses in your practice.

Important for implementation is:

• to further educate yourself comprehensively
• respond to the individual needs of patients
• to explain to patients how the exercises work
• To encourage patients to integrate the exercises into their daily routine

And now nothing should stand in the way of your success.

We hope that you have been able to take some suggestions with you and will end the topic here with the following quote:

“Nothing is as constant as change.” - Heraclitus