© Leeon & Shaw Pilates Pty Ltd
ABN 97 084 276 273

I have been using pilates to compliment my other rugby specific training since 1999. in this time I have found it extremely beneficial in strengthening my " stabilizers ". These range from the rotator cuff muscles in the shoulder, my upper and lower leg muscles as well as my abdominal region. I believe this has aided me in injury prevention as well as enhancing my strength training.

You need to be focused and ready when you turn up to these sessions because all movements require great control both mentally and physically. It is challenging but also rewarding.

- George Gregan

Case History 1

A 29 year old male client who is a nurse, Andrew, suffered a traumatic incident at work 7 years ago. He ended up with a disc bulge at L4 with slight impingement on the thecal sac. He managed his condition semi successfully, able to put up with the almost constant dull pain. 5 years later he suffered a flare up which left him in constant pain. Andrew swam a lot in his teens and had kept himself very fit. He went surfing on a regular basis. After the flare up he rarely went swimming or surfing and found he had to be cautious while playing with his young son.

We started him on a basic programme of core stability as well as some basic Pilates exercises always being aware of core control and correct muscle patterning. Having always been active and now having been in pain for so long, Andrew was determined to be healed. He applied himself extremely well. Even though he was mostly only able to come once a week he diligently did his homework exercises every night. This paid off immediately. From the first session he felt an improvement within himself. After a week he felt generally stronger. After 15 sessions he went surfing again!

After 20 sessions his back pain is almost a distant memory. He continues to do Pilates and we continue to challenge his core stability and general strength. He feels like a new man!

A 50 year old Architect who was also a keen bushwalker and was running for up to 1 hour every morning before work, presented with a grade 2 inversion sprain on the ® ankle and a cast on the (L) leg for a fractured tibia and fibula. He had fallen while bushwalking. As well as having physiotherapy treatment, he was very keen to keep exercising and keep the rest of his body strong while the cast was still on.

Pilates provided an excellent programme as he was able to continue abdominal and back work, upper body work, hip and leg strengthening within the confines of the cast on the (L), right leg and ankle strengthening progressively as the inversion sprain improved. This helped him maintain his lumbar spine where he had a tendency to chronic problems, which may have been aggravated due to compensating for using crutches and having an uneven gait for quite some time.

Initially, he was only doing reduced weight-bearing exercises on the right side and non weight-bearing exercises on the left until the cast was removed. Flexibility work is also an important part of the programme and he was able to do this for all the major muscle groups except the left calf.

His ankle injuries have long since healed but he remains a regular Pilates client doing 2 sessions per week. He feels stronger, more flexible and more aware of his body now and he has not had any further problems with his back.