Pilates for Knee Rehab & ACL Recovery
“After a skiing accident (fractured tibia, ruptured ACL, torn meniscus) I waited six weeks and then had an ACL reconstruction.
“After a skiing accident (fractured tibia, ruptured ACL, torn meniscus) I waited six weeks and then had an ACL reconstruction. As soon as the swelling was down and the wound healed, I signed up for one to one Pilates sessions at the Pilates Clinic. These weekly sessions complemented the regular Physio that was prescribed. We worked on strengthening the muscles around the knee, and exercises to improve knee extension, flexion and balance and slowly I was able to regain full range of movement. Physio sessions tend to be 20 minutes of exercises on the injured knee, yet in an hour of Pilates you do a whole body workout while focusing on the injury. I was back running after 5 months and skiing after 10 months.”
Thanks Lynda for this. I think the key issue here that Lynda mentioned is that with complex rehab we act as a compliment to other therapy. While a physio (or other therapist) will guide you (and us if necessary) by giving you exercises specific to the injury, Pilates will help to keep your whole body mobile and worked while taking care of the injury too. Often, having a knee injury can cause compensations or overuse of other muscles during the healing period, and Pilates helps to keep things from going out of kilter, working the whole body in relation to the injury.
There's a peculiar mindset that grips many of us when it comes to exercise: if you can't do it properly—a full hour, perfectly executed, with complete focus—why bother at all? This all-or-nothing thinking keeps studios empty and bodies stuck in patterns of inactivity, particularly among busy professionals commuting through Wimbledon Station or working from home in Raynes Park.
At first glance, the reformer can look like something out of a physics lab — straps, pulleys, springs, a moving carriage. But underneath the mechanics lies the same foundation that defines all Pilates: precision, control, and awareness.
As autumn settles over Wimbledon, mornings turn crisp and the light fades earlier each day. Many of us feel our motivation dip. Outdoor workouts become less appealing, and long hours spent sitting or commuting start to take a toll on posture and energy.
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