07554443735
Chancellor Pilates Rehabilitation
Support for life
Chancellor Pilates Rehabilitation is based near Reading and offers the APPI Pilates system of exercises to support improved posture, movement & daily function, to help prevent injuries and to assist recovery and rehabilitation for musculoskeletal conditions.
Asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals benefit from this functional approach to exercise.
The APPI approach blends musculoskeletal rehabilitation with pilates. Small classes ensure that exercises can be carefully selected, sequenced & paced to address particular musculoskeletal issues and to ensure that they are achievable and helpful for everyone. Exercises train deep muscle support without stressing the joints. Graduated loading is employed in respect of fitness, fatigue and pathology. Functional weight bearing positions are designed to reflect your daily activity, so that your body is trained to meet the demands of life. Clients are taught how hold themselves and move in a better way and can expect improvements in posture, movement, balance, core strength, flexibility and coordination. This can improve joint biomechanics and daily functional capabilities, help prevent musculoskeletal problems and assist recovery as necessary.
Clients are offered a variety of pathways including small classes, individual sessions, remote Zoom classes, home exercise programming and home visits.
ABOUT US
Strong Foundations
Chancellor Pilates Rehabilitation provides access to regular teaching reinforcement and supervision of a safe, specific and graduated system of pilates exercises to support improved control of posture and movement.
Initially based within a busy GP surgery in the centre of Reading, the practice has now moved to a peaceful studio in Shinfield catering for small classes of 6, doubles classes or individual sessions. Home programmes and home visits are also available. Remote classes are also successfully operating via Zoom.
Please note that Chancellor Pilates does not offer manual physiotherapy.
Michelle Pizura
Chancellor Pilates Rehabilitation, Shinfield, Reading
MSc (Physio), BSc Hons (Physio), MCSP, APPI Certified Pilates Practitioner
Schroth Best Practice Certified Practitioner for Conservative Management of Scoliosis.
Chancellor Pilates Rehabilitation offers a structured and carefully managed system of exercises, with education and advice, to provide a positive, accessible and affordable 'self-help' approach to manage posture and musculoskeletal issues.
Symptomatic clients are encouraged to remain positive, active and to manage any musculoskeletal conditions through posture and appropriate exercise - gaining control and developing confidence in their abilities. Expectations and limitations are discussed - to help clients understand and manage their conditions over the long term.
Classes also cater for many asymptomatic clients who recognise the benefits of improved posture and movement in the prevention of injury. Many clients report improvements in form and function carried over into daily activities and other sporting endeavours.
Regular weekly instruction and reinforcement allows the time necessary to train individuals effectively. All clients are closely monitored to ensure they are working within safe capabilities.
Musculoskeletal assessment and exercise selection, progression and teaching is supported by postgraduate education, training and clinical experience in musculoskeletal physiotherapy.
What Is Rehabilitation Pilates
"Change happens through movement and movement heals".
Joseph Pilates
APPI Health Group has enjoyed great international success training Physiotherapists, Chiropractors and equivalent degree therapists in the Rehabilitation Pilates technique. This success relies on a research based approach to pilates training. Physiotherapists recognise the demand for more specific Pilates training which targets the higher theoretical and practical experience of higher degree therapists dealing with musculoskeletal problems. The APPI method presents the most current research relevant to Pilates and teaches a realistic framework of exercises to apply in the clinical setting.
APPI has modified Traditional Pilates exercises into therapeutic exercises and renamed them Rehabilitation Pilates. Traditional Pilates, developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s, is a system of exercise which aims to increase strength of the core abdominal and back muscles. Originally designed for dancers, traditional Pilates exercises are very physically demanding and not suitable for those with low back pain (LBP), neck pain or peripheral joint injuries.
Therefore, Australian Physiotherapists Elisa and Glenn Withers, founders of the APPI Method, analysed and modified the original repertoire into a system of exercises which aim to restore muscle balance and correct postural alignment and movement strategies. Rehabilitation Pilates is based on retraining correct activation of the core stabilising lumbo-pelvic muscles: Multifidus, Transversus Abdominis and the pelvic floor.
‘Rehabilitation Pilates’ is the culmination of years of both Physiotherapy and Pilates training.
Clinical Research
Research has shown that specific retraining of the Multifidus muscle reduces the recurrence rate of Low Back Pain (LBP). Hides et al (1994) reported evidence of lumbar Multifidus muscle wasting ipsilateral to symptoms in patients with acute/subacute LBP.
Further studies found that Multifidus muscle recovery is not automatic after the resolution of acute, first-episode LBP (Hides et al., 1996). In their study with LBP patients, Hides et al (1996) demonstrated that this deficit in Multifidus can be reversed with exercises that focus on activating the Multifidus muscle. Two to three year follow up studies found that the recurrence rate of LBP was reduced by 50% in patients who had performed specific exercises for activating Multifidus. An integral part of therapeutic rehabilitation following LBP is re-training correct activation of the Multifidus muscles which can be done using Modified Pilates.
The Transversus Abdominis (TrA) is the other principle muscle affected in LBP. Studies have found delayed onset of activation and poor activation of the TrA in LBP patients compared to healthy controls (Hodges et al, 2010, 2008, 1997). In healthy individuals the TrA activates prior to limb movements to provide postural support to the lumbar spine (Hodges & Richardson 1997). In LBP patients TrA activation occurs after the limb movement and therefore renders the lumbar spine unsupported during functional activities. A model for retraining motor control of the TrA is provided as a part of Rehabilitation Pilates.
The APPI Pilates Method provides Physiotherapists and equivalent degree- level therapists with a clinical and
user friendly tool for retraining correct activation of the Multifidus, TrA muscles and pelvic floor muscles. It consists of a progressive repertoire of mat based exercises designed specifically for the clinical population, which can be taught and progressed simply and which can be easily practiced at home to improve progress.
Key Elements
The key elements of APPI Pilates method include retraining:
• Neutral lumbo-pelvic alignment and activation of the key lumbo-pelvic stabilising muscles to promote a central, stable foundation for upper and lower limb position and movement
• Correct ribcage/thoracic alignment
• Scapulo-thoracic stabilisation as a foundation for upper limb posture and movement.
• Deep neck flexor retraining to stabilise the cervical spine and improve head position
• The repertoire of APPI Pilates exercises also include exercises to improve spinal mobility, flexibility of the key trunk and lower limb muscles groups, body awareness and postural awareness.
Benefits of Rehabilitation Pilates
" Pilates teaches you to be in control of your body & not at its mercy."
Joseph Pilates
Functional pilates exercises focus on learning to move with improved posture and patterns of movement which are functional, weight bearing and reflect the demands of daily activity. This improved way of moving is reinforced with integration into your daily activity - providing support for life.
Repeated exercises train improved posture and movement strategies which reprogramme muscle balance and alter the mechanics of the joints (biomechanics). Exercises target deep core postural (tonic) muscle systems for joint support whilst coordinating improved balance in the timing and recruitment of the outer core (phasic) muscle systems. This helps recalibrate the balance between deep and superficial muscle systems, to optimise deep joint support whilst improving flexibility. The balance of work between muscle systems is improved - from the inside out and along the length of your skeletal chain, to improve your posture and movement patterns.
Adjusting and fine tuning the balance between joint stability and flexibility improves the mechanics of joint movement (biomechanics).
As the quality of movement and biomechanics improve, soft tissues are offloaded from compression or strain helping to prevent injuries & support recovery from musculoskeletal conditions.
Philosophy
Helping you learn to help yourself ….
Educating, encouraging and empowering individuals to take control of their musculoskeletal problems.
Training to improve posture and functional movement patterns to help offload soft tissues and reduce pain.
Learning and reinforcing improved posture & movement patterns by integrating them into functional daily activities.
Improving knowledge & confidence to work within safe limits to keep you moving and active.
Progressing activity with respect for loading, symptoms and fatigue - to reduce the risk of setbacks.
Encouraging positive attitude and continued activity in the event of recurring problems - by adjusting pace, activity and exercise as necessary.
Integrating education into classes to improve understanding of posture, the correct way to move and lift and the reasons why different exercises are helpful for various conditions.
Undertaking essential individual assessment prior to enrolment to identify and assess any musculoskeletal problems and functional limitations, to select the appropriate class and to pace the exercises effectively for class planning and individual instruction.
Planning each class according to the level of ability and nature of the conditions presenting. Recording progress notes for each individual after every class.
Restricting class sizes to a maximum of 6 allow for more individual attention to adjust the exercises as appropriate on an ongoing basis and improve progress.
Providing easy to follow, digital home exercise programmes to your tablet - with photo & video content to assist progress.
Providing regular review, assessment and home programme updates as required.
TESTIMONIALS
What's On Offer
Everyone leads a busy life and it is easy to neglect our bodies.
Join our friendly classes at Chancellor Pilates and let us help you take care of your body and maintain your musculoskeletal health. To accommodate your busy schedule, we offer group classes and specialised individual programs over 3 days a week (when the studio is open), remote classes via Zoom, home visits and digital home exercise programmes, specific to your needs and downloaded to your tablet. The studio is a bright, airy and calm space and assessment offers a safe, supportive environment to explore your concerns.
We take a personal & accessible approach to your pilates program. Programs are designed to accommodate your problems, ease your symptoms and help you manage your limitations. We aim to improve your confidence to move and to put you back in control of your daily life.
All exercises are adjusted to meet your needs so this approach is accessible to everyone. If you want to learn to help yourself through posture, movement and exercise, then this is for you.
Please take a look at the pathways on offer.
Initial Assessment
New clients require an initial consultation & assessment before they are entered into a selective class or commence 1:1 instruction. This takes 90 minutes with a £75 assessment fee. Assessment provides information on the focus & level of exercises recommended to address musculoskeletal issues. Consultation will involve a brief discussion of relevant musculoskeletal conditions, investigations and treatment. Some undressing may be required. Initial preliminary pilates exercises are taught and provided as a home exercise programme to your tablet or laptop so that you can practise the basics at home prior to further individual instruction to target your problem or until you feel ready to enter classes with broader scope.
Class Information
Chancellor Pilates Classes, Shinfield, Reading
Classes and 1:1 appointments run on Monday, Tuesday and Friday mornings at 9.15am, 11.15am & 1.15pm.
Classes are broadly classified according to loading and level of difficulty but all exercises are easily modified so that classes can accommodate a range of abilities.
In all classes exercises transition from lying to more functional positions in kneeling, sitting and standing & use a variety of small equipment such as balls, rollers, weights and resistance bands.
Classes are 75 minutes duration. 1:1 and assessment appointments are 90 minutes duration.
Please enquire for availability.
Level 1
Low load exercises with more support. For less experienced and symptomatic clients who need to respect symptoms or reduce load. Focussing on deep muscle activation and movement technique before transitioning to higher loading and greater range of movement, in more challenging positions.
Level 2
Increasing challenge with higher load exercises & reduced support - integrating deep core muscle work with increasing activation of the outer core and extended core. Challenges endurance, strength, flexibility, balance & coordination in more challenging positions.
Level 3
High load exercises building strength, power, endurance, flexibility and balance. Coordination of deep and superficial muscle systems to control movement at high levels of loading, with reduced support and increasing range of movement in more unstable positions to challenge coordination and balance.
Chancellor Pilates Home Support
Covid - 19
Chancellor Pilates has been pleased to offer remote classes via Zoom, to provide continued support for clients unable to attend studio based classes which have been cancelled due to the Covid 19 outbreak.
New clients are welcome to subscribe to remote classes but still require an initial 1:1 assessment in clinic prior to joining any class. Full distancing, sanitising and precautionary safety measures are in place for individual visits to the studio, which has separate access from the rear of the property. Please contact Chancellor Pilates Rehabilitation for further details.
Digital home exercise programmes are also available.
Home visits can resume once permitted by Public Health England.
Fees
£75
New Client Assessment
Assessment takes around 90 minutes. Initial consultation gathers information on musculoskeletal history and any functional limitations. Physical examination assesses posture, movement & muscle balance. Assessment provides information on the focus and level of exercises recommended to address any musculoskeletal issues and helps decide which classes are most suitable. Key elements and basic exercises are taught at this appointment. A summary of assessment findings is provided with a preliminary programme of basic exercises, downloaded to your tablet or laptop, which will enable you to practise the essential components of the exercises prior to joining classes or progressing with individual instruction.
£48 to £72
Course of Classes
Courses run in school term times and comprise a block of 4 to 6 classes. Classes run with a minimum number of 3 and a maximum number of 6 individuals. Fees are payable in advance as a block and work out at £12 per class.
Please see terms and conditions for further information regarding absences.
£96 to £144
Course of Doubles Classes
Courses of 4 to 6 classes with 2 individuals can be organised during term times. Fees are payable as a block in advance and work out at £24 each per class. Please see terms and conditions for further information concerning class absences.
£35
Tailored Home Exercise Programme (New Client)
A detailed home exercise programme prepared according to individual findings from your recent comprehensive assessment. Designed to provide exercises to address muscle imbalances, movement dysfunctions and joint stiffness. This programme is downloaded to your tablet with comprehensive instructions, photos and video content. One or two individual sessions are usually necessary, at extra cost, to teach these exercises.
£50
Review & Update of Home Exercise Programme (Existing Client)
This is a 90 minute individual appointment to reassess, review and progress your home exercise programme and to teach the updated exercises. The updated programme is then prepared and forwarded to your tablet where comprehensive instructions, photos and videos will assist your practice.
£75
Home Visits
Home visits are available on Wednesdays and Thursdays for individuals who are unable it to make it to the studio. Visits are 90 minutes long and the fee includes travel costs. Full equipment is provided if necessary.
£50 or £75
Individual Appointments
60 or 90 Minutes of tailored pilates teaching with exercises to address your needs. This is useful for those new to pilates who wish to gain confidence prior to joining a class or for those who need advice on appropriate pilates exercises for rehabilitation purposes.
£48 to £72
Course of 4 to 6 Zoom Pilates Classes
75 minutes of remote APPI pilates classes - delivered via Zoom. Reliable internet connection required. Terms & conditions apply.
Terms & Conditions
Chancellor Pilates Rehabilitation, Shinfield, Reading
Individual sessions:
A minimum of 24 hours notice is required for cancellation of 1:1 appointments.
Absence or cancellation without adequate notice may incur the full fee.
Classes:
Fees
Fees are payable in advance for a complete course of sessions which will build skill and knowledge consistently over time and in pace with the other class members.
Course Confirmation
Places on courses will only be secure once payment is received in full and previous courses have been settled in full. Those wishing to pay by cash or cheque are welcome to do so at the first class of the semester.
Class Absences
In the event of not being able to attend a class please give at least 24 hours' notice. Catch up sessions cannot be offered to clients where inadequate notice of absence has been given.
You will still be charged for the class unless there has been a need for me to cancel the class.
On occasion there is the opportunity to catch up a missed session provided there is a space at another class at a time that suits you, within the same semester.
Please be aware that catch up sessions will be offered wherever possible but this provision is not guaranteed and is limited due to small class sizes, currently run on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Should any offered catch-up session be declined by a member or not possible within a semester, then the missed session will be forfeited. Where absence occurs on the lastsession of a semester, I will endeavor to offer an opportunity to catch up in the next semester.
The catch-up process relies upon adequate notice of absence from all clients (at least 24 hours in advance). Habitual absences without reasonable advance notification compromises the opportunities for others and offers of subsequent courses may be withdrawn.
Responsibility to catch up on missed sessions remains with the client. Clients wishing to catch up should please email as soon as possible detailing availability on specific Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays so that alternative sessions, if available, can be agreed simply and easily. If I am not able to offer something immediately, I can keep you on the list for the semester and will be in touch to offer a cancellation should a space become available.
Right to Refund or Credit
Ad-hoc missed classes by a client cannot be deducted from the fees of a subsequent semester or be refunded. Classes are booked and paid for in advance, by semester only and not on a ‘pay as you go’ basis.
The only exception to the above is prolonged absence over 3 or more consecutive sessions in a semester due to illness or injury. In this circumstance the next semester may be credited providing that reasonable advance notice is given to allow the available time to be offered to others.
Contact Us
Orchard House, Croft Road, Shinfield, Reading
RG2 9EY
07554443735
