basi pilates for new mothers-1-27-15 · 2017-04-21 ·...
TRANSCRIPT
Abstract: This paper discusses how to properly use BASI Pilates’ repertoire to prevent and assist the mending of women’s pre and post-‐natal bodies. We begin by addressing common faulty body adaptions that occur from the transition into motherhood. Pregnancy, childbirth and infant care are strenuous on a woman’s body, mind and lifestyle, which compromises previous strength, posture and flexibility. Pilates can prove to be a gentle, effective form of exercise to help resolve many negative adaptions and movement patterns that new mothers often acquire during this timeframe. With the incorporation of a correct program, mothers can benefit from following a Pilates program that focuses on strengthening abdominal and back extensors, then flexibility of the shoulders and hip flexors. Lastly, we will explain how to build personal Pilates plans for 2 women, one pregnant and one post-‐natal.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 : Introduction: Effects of Pregnancy, childbirth and Infant care on a women’s core.
Chapter 2 : Pilates Benefits for Pregnant and Postpartum Women
Chapter 3 : Case Study – Pregnant Client, Nastassia
Chapter 4 : Case Study-‐ Postnatal Client, Andrea
Chapter 5 : Conclusion
Bibliography
Pregnancy can be an amazing and wonderful time for women to experience.
A woman’s body is designed to go through pregnancy, childbirth and nursing a child.
Yet, this natural phenomenon doesn’t come without stress and strain on women’s
body and well-‐being. During this road to motherhood, several negative body
adaptions often occur within the new mothers body that don’t completely dissolve
once the baby is born. The woman must learn and listen to the differences in her
body to address and correct wherever necessary. There is arguably not a better
place to start than with Pilates.
If we look at this diagram on the effects of pregnancy on a woman’s posture
and core, we see many challenges she is faced with as her pregnancy evolves.
Major postural changes occur in the woman’s pre and postnatal body.
Goodman explains many of these body adaptions to new motherhood, “Pregnancy
causes major postural changes to occur. All of the spinal curves become more
exaggerated, and these excessive spinal curves often continue into postpartum”
(Goodman). There is a change in ribcage position, increased weight and lifestyle
changes to consider when leading a woman through a Pilates repertoire. Goodman
also points out, “The postural changes of pregnancy should really be viewed as a
changing orthopedic state. Orthopedic physicians and physical therapists know that
the sooner we address muscle weakness after a traumatic event, the sooner the
body heals” (Goodman). Pilates addresses muscles in a way that brings balance to
muscles and sets bones in their places through strength and flexibility training. A
pregnant woman’s center of balance becomes off as her anterior side grows, often
causing her to protrude the head. The head position must be relearned through
conscious exercise or nerves will be compromised. The BASI repertoire focuses on
proper head alignment in all exercises, which offers great relearning opportunities
for pregnant and postpartum mothers.
One of the most well common effects on a woman’s postpartum body is
Diastasis Recti. This condition is described as the separation of the Rectus
Abdominis muscles laterally during pregnancy as the womb size increases, causing a
separation of more than two finger-‐widths between the recti.
Without proper care, Diastasis Recti won’t mend and with improper exercise,
the condition could worsen. Pilates Instructor and specialist in Post-‐natal Pilates,
Amanda McKinney, tells us, “many women experience a diastasis, a separation of the
Rectus Abdominis muscles to accommodate a growing womb, and turn to Pilates to
bring their muscles back together again”(McKinney). Pilates’ abdominal exercises
that recruit the whole powerhouse, such as Standing pike on the Wunda chair or Tilt
on the short box, are considered safe and effective movements to assist the healing
of the rectus by providing support and stability to the surrounding muscles, which
allows the separation to heal properly.
The pre-‐ and postnatal adaptions can be addressed and improved with an
educated and specific Pilates program. Stacey Haugland states, “Pregnancy and
childbirth should not have a negative effect on a woman’s body. By adding Pilates
exercises to the post-‐partum period, I have found that women heal much more
quickly and completely”(Tor). Pre and postnatal Pilates expert, Leah Stewart
explains, “Pilates will not only heal areas affected by pregnancy and labor such as
the pelvic floor, abdominal muscles, and her lower back, it will also give her the
strength, balance and an overall feeling of body awareness and connection she will
need to care for her new baby” (Knittel). This awareness is key to recovering
strength and mobility for the mother’s new body in a new season of life.
Pilates has been shown to be an excellent exercise and meditation practice
for mothers. “A woman with a new baby, especially a first baby, may be feeling lost,
incapable and extremely tired, but these feelings are compounded by the physical
changes after birth. Ten deep breaths while focusing on “wrapping the abs” and
“lifting the pelvic floor” can do wonders for a woman. Not only will she rebuild her
core and bring her Rectus Abdominis back together, she will focus on herself rather
than the baby and she will begin to form a new relationship with her amazing body
that carried and delivered a brand new baby” (T,N).
For my pregnant client, Nastassia, her goals for her program varied by
trimester, but at her third trimester, will stay consistent through the rest of her
pregnancy. Nastassia is a 27-‐year-‐old dance instructor with a foundation of Pilates
pre-‐pregnancy, a strong core and awareness of her body mechanics. We have been
assigning her a challenging pre-‐natal Pilates program that focuses on proper
alignment, breathing well, whole core activation and whole body conditioning. The
muscles we are focusing on strengthening include: oblique, transverse Abdominis,
intercostal and external costal muscles, back extensors, Latissimus dorsi,
rhomboids, quadriceps and hamstrings. We are working on flexibility of her
scapular region, hips and hamstrings. An example of her exercise plan, following the
BASI block system, looks like this:
1. Exercise Plan: a. Warm up
i. Pelvic curl ii. Supine stretch
b. Footwork i. Footwork Series (Wunda Chair)
c. Abdominals i. Tilt of Short Box Series (Reformer)
d. Hip Work i. Gluteal Side Lying Series (Reformer)
e. Spinal Articulation i. Bottom lift ii. Bottom lift with extension
f. Stretches i. Pole Stretch Series (Ball)
g. Full Body A/I
i. Scooter h. Arm Work
i. Arms Sitting Series (Reformer) i. Leg Work
i. Single leg skating (Reformer) j. Lateral Flexion/Rotation
i. Side stretch (Wunda Chair) k. Back Extension
i. Cat Stretch (Mat) ii. Rest position
For Nastassia, I chose these exercises that challenge her body in mainly an
upright position to allow proper blood flow to baby and mother. She is comfortable
in short times on her back, so we warm her up in traditional warm up skipping the
forward flexion exercises. She is able to complete her footwork on the Wunda chair,
which allows the upright position and challenge to hold in her core. Cat stretch
allows her body the chance to strengthen and stretch her back in a safe way that
increases her spinal mobility. I assign single leg skating to increase her balance and
center her center of gravity.
My second case study is my postnatal client, Andrea. Andrea is a 30-‐year-‐old
mother of 4 boys with the last 2 pregnancies being back to back, which didn’t allow
her body to completely heal in between pregnancies. She started Pilates with
moderate diastasis recti one year postpartum. Andrea’s program goals and
guidelines include: rehabilitation of the pelvic floor, postural realignment (ex/ spine,
shoulders and pelvis), strengthening entire core system, increasing
hamstring/shoulder flexibility, reduce Stress, regain proper ribcage positioning and
increase muscle tone.
Our muscle focuses include: Rectus Abdominis, transverse Abdominis,
oblique’, Pelvic Floor, the pectorals, the erector spinae and the diaphragm, Postural
muscles (ex/: Latissimus Dorsi, Rhomboids, Deltoids) and flexibility of: Hamstrings,
hip flexors, hip rotator, and scapular region (ex/: Deltoids).
An example BASI block class for Andrea at the beginning of her postpartum
journey followed as:
Exercise Program:
i. Warm up 1. Pelvic Curl 2. Supine Spine Twist 3. Chest lift 4. Chest lift with rotation
ii. Footwork 1. Reformer Series
iii. Abdominals 1. Standing Pike (Wunda Chair) 2. Standing Pike Reverse (Wunda Chair)
iv. Hip Work 1. Supine Leg series (Reformer)
v. Spinal Articulation 1. Bottom lift 2. Bottom lift with extension
vi. Stretches 1. Pole Series (standing)
vii. Full Body A/I 1. Scooter
viii. Arm Work 1. Arms Supine Series (Reformer)
ix. Leg Work 1. Hamstring Curl
x. Lateral Flexion/Rotation 1. Mermaid (Reformer)
xi. Back Extension 1. Pulling Straps I & II
I chose exercises that avoided further straining the rectus Abdominis
through forward flexion and instead highlighted deep transverse activation. The
pole series is wonderful for Andrea to gain flexibility in her scapular region that
became tight in the increase of anterior weight of pregnancy and nursing her sons.
Pulling straps 1 and 2 give focus to the upper back strength to help realign her
posture.
Pilates is an incredible practice for the pregnant and postnatal population by
providing gentle, yet challenging exercises that are highly adaptable into the ever-‐
changing pre and postnatal woman’s busy lifestyles. Posture, comfort and strength
do not have to be compromised through pregnancy and postpartum with the help of
Pilates. A prescribed Pilates conditioning program that focuses on proper
alignment, proper breathing pattern, whole core activation, and whole body
conditioning, can allow a new mother to begin experiencing the confidence, energy,
and stamina needed to embrace modern-‐day motherhood.
Works Cited
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Jan. 2015.
Knittel, Linda. "Pilates: The Perfect Postpartum Practice." PilatesStyle.com
Newsletter. Pilates Style, 1 Oct. 2011. Web. 31 Jan. 2015.
Mckinney, Amanda. "PILATES & NEW MOMS & BABIES." The Method Pilates. The
Method Pilates, n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2015.
T, N. "Pilates: Great Exercise for New Mothers." NurseTogether.com. Nursing
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Tor, Ellie. "How Prenatal and Postpartum Pilates Can Be Empowering -‐ The Method
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2015.
WONNACOTT, Michelle. "Pilates for New Mothers." Web log post. The Active Mum.
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