About

Injury Management

 

Here at Alexandra Brookes we offer a varied approach to the rehabilitation of  sporting and non-sporting injury.

Firstly we offer Sports Rehabilitation; Sports Rehabilitation helps people of all  ages to recover from and prevent injury and to reduce pain through exercise and  hands on treatment.

Sports Rehabilitators aid in the recovery of people whom are suffering from pain as a result of injury or illness arising from the musculoskeletal system.

As part of our Sports Rehabilitation, we use varying pieces of equipment to aid recovery or prehabilitation one of which is the Pilates Reformer;

Invented by the founder of Pilates, Joseph Pilates, the reformer has a bed-like frame with a cushioned carriage on it and cushioned shoulder rests. This carriage rolls back and forth within the frame and is attached to the end of the reformer by weighted resisted springs, which can be altered depending on the resistance required, for the exercise chosen or the level of the participant.
Behind the springs sits an adjustable bar called the footbar, this can be used by a participants feet or hands to create movement of the carriage.

At the cushioned head end of the carriage where the shoulder pads can be found,  the reformer also has long straps with handles on them, these straps can be pulled with legs or arms to move the carriage as well. Body weight and resistance of the springs are what make the carriage more or less difficult to move. 

So what can you use a reformer for?
Exercises on the reformer can be conducted in a variety of ways; lying down, in sitting, standing,  and all kinds of variations. In other words, the reformer can train many parts and dynamics of the body in so many different ways with just one relatively sleek piece of equipment.

So what are the benefits of using a reformer?
The Pilates reformer can train overall body strength, flexibility, coordination and balance, all of which aid us in our daily activities and in our chosen sports. The reformer can also aid the rehabilitation of injury by working on musculo-skeletal imbalances and creating strength in required areas.

The pushing an pulling action of the carriage using the arms or legs against the chosen resisted spring setting aids in building all over body strength.
The special feature of the Pilates reformer is that it works the muscles eccentrically (when a muscle lengthens as it resists force) creating long lean strong muscles which Pilates is most known for.

The instability of a rolling carriage with the springs set at different levels of resistance provides all kinds of stability challenges that develop core strength and promote better balance. 

 

Injury Management Continued

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Another treatment modality used in the rehabilitation and prehabilitation of injury is sports massage; Sports massage is a form of massage involving the manipulation of soft tissue to bring about benefits to a person whom engages in regular physical activity or whom is recovering from injury. Soft tissue includes skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia. A Sports massage is designed to assist in correcting problems and imbalances in soft tissue that are caused from repetitive and strenuous physical activity and trauma. The application of sports massage, prior to and after exercise, may enhance performance, aid recovery and prevent injury.

 

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Clinical Pilates Matwork Classes

 

Pilates is a system of exercises first established by Joseph Pilates in the 1920's (Then named Contrology).

Pilates matwork is designed to improve physical strength, improve flexibility and posture and increase mental awareness.

At Alexandra Brookes, we offer clinically based Pilates, where the original repertoire is broken down into clearly defined levels to ensure gradual progression. The clinical pilates matwork can suit a client whom may be using pilates as a form of injury rehabilitation or pre-habilitation or is looking for a genetle form of progressive exercise.

Our classes are Sports Rehabilitator lead, with training acquired from the APPI.

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Holistic Therapies

 

Reflexology

Reflexology is a complementary therapy, based on the theory that different points on the hands and feet correspond to that of the organs and parts of the body.

Reflexology can be tailored to the individual client and can treat a range of different ailments or can simply be used to promote health and well-being.

 

Swedish massage

Swedish massage is the most common and best-known type of massage in the West, and the foundation for many other forms of massage this type of massage aims to stimulate circulation, flush the circulatory system, release tight muscles, restore range of motion, and to relieve pain and promote general health and well being.

 

Pregnancy massage

Prenatal massage is a type of massage that's similar to Swedish massage, with an aim of relaxing tense muscles, easing sore spots, improving circulation and mobility. But prenatal massage is also customized to the needs of pregnant women and their changing bodies, and therapists trained in prenatal massage adjust their techniques accordingly. Prenatal massage is believed to have the same benefits as Swedish Massage and some small studies have suggested that it may also; Improve mood and lower stress levels, reduce prenatal depression and anxiety, lower the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight in infants of women with prenatal depression and reduce  swelling in the legs 

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