This exercise is performed on all 4s and is a great progression from lying on your back, to hands and knees.

This exercise position into ‘plank’ may cause raised IAP (intra abdominal pressure) beyond the strength of the pelvic floor muscles. The carriage movements will alter the intensity of this challenging ‘Core’ exercise. This exercise combines upper body and core strength, similar to the mat push up. 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. This exercise is performed in standing sideways. 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. The ‘tabletop’ position is a difficult position for some women to maintain. Hands are holding the reformer straps and a series of arm pulling exercises are performed. This exercise is performed lying on your back on the reformer with legs in ‘table top’ position.

Pilates Reformer exercises and pelvic floor safe exercise 1. With the exception of the long stretch series these studio exercises if modified correctly can be used to assist clients with pelvic floor dysfunction. They are commonly taught, and often in ‘group reformer classes’. These exercises are all described in detail below. Reverse abdominals Pilates exercises – Cadillac (trapeze table) Pelvic Floor Safe Exercise Saver Packħ Pilates exercises – equipment with potential for pelvic floor dysfunction Pilates exercises – Reformer basedĥ. These exercises can have the potential to increase pressure upon the pelvic floor. All the Pilates exercises listed below are great if you are able to maintain your pelvic floor muscle lift and breathing control. Studio equipment based Pilates exercises can be an excellent way to assist and control some of these more demanding mat exercises. 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. 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. Studios offer individual and small group exercise sessions that usually involve a ‘tailored’ exercise program to suit the client’s needs. 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. Pilates studio exercises use specific Pilates equipment to perform a wide range of Pilates exercises. This Pilates exercises Physiotherapist article outlines 7 Pilates exercises using equipment to avoid or modify with pelvic floor dysfunction.

Reformer pilates moves