United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi people, hope you're good (or bad, as ya please!)
I have a question about Pilates therapy. It seems sensible and promising ~ has anyone any experience of it? A physio recommended it to me but i havent seen a practitioner as yet just read up on it and tried some of the core excercises (great for spine damage, easing pain w/out meds has to be good right?). Just wondering if anyone has any experience of it? Or just another yuppie fad? Its been mooted as a career option, i reckon robbing banks would be more fun but shorter career.. ;O)

take an antiinflammatory before and after your session... you'll be using areas of your body that you never thought you could use in this way

Sounds interesting Dave
I spoke to the PT yesterday about Pilates and he said it was a very good therapy in the hands of a well trained person.

Right now the PT I use just finished training in
ART = Active Release Therapy

http://activerelease.com/about/index.cfm

He has been using this on me for the past two weeks and I am geeting a really good stretch in the bpi arm on the contracture's in my elbow... and those contracture's are pretty old... LOL...

This therapy is also helping with the overuse on the left arm and carpal tunnel problems along with Ulna problems... It has really helped

It is not for wimps it takes strong pressure. So far it has helped with the pain.

I also get chiropractor adjustments and myofacia release along with ART.


Kath - right obpi

Kath.....question.......are you seeing any differences in ROM in your elbow contracture with this therapy ?? I have badly postured my elbow over the last year or so....always preferring my arm slightly bent, so thus....a contracture. And you know as good as I how painful it is to straighten it back out. But you have had a contracture your whole life, so I'm just curious what your pt results are so far. I really don't want to go back to pt but it may become neccessary. Thanks.

George

George

Yes I am seeing some results and the contracture's are VERY tight in my right bpi arm. I am getting it on both arms... I think I overused the left one a bit during the last 62 years... LOL... so far I am seeing some results from it and that is more then I can say from taking any sort of drugs.
Poor Posture habits are easy to form and hard to break... I am searching for a soft brace to keep my elbow straight at night... Because I have a very bad and old habit of curling my arm up tucking it under my chin in bent position to be comfortable... or I sleep with on top of my head again elbow bent... It seems that even the little ones do the same thing and I just met a young tbpi she has the same sleeping habit and sitting habits... Holding her arm bent... It is a comfort position because if you think about it your arm is heavy and the muscles are weak or wasted.

when I lay on the floor to exercise "the arm" not the rest of me...lol... I can get my arm out straighter I believe it has helped I also have contracture's in my arm pit and my neck on the left side is very tight from supporting and compensation and this is also being helped. As I said it is a lot of tough pressure on the tight spots.

The reason I started research on "erb's Palsy" OBPI was because I had lost so much range of motion and my arm was curling...

I think that contracture's are something bpi injured will always have to deal with in one way or another. I just know that I did not want to have my arm so bent that I was banging everyone in the head... well all the little people in my life...

I think that PT/OT should have always been a part of my life... to prevent the overuse of the good arm... You must protect the healthy arm... it can wear out from compensation.
When we compensate for bpi we cause other problems with our neck and backs... so PT is "a good thing"

Find a PT you are really comfortable with and one who LISTENS... and you won't mind so much... I have had to stop a few times over the past few years just because I did not want anyone in my personal space... so I understand what you mean about not want PT... I never thought I would have to have all this suff again people pulling and rubbing my arm... now its both arms...

So keep up the exercises and PT.

Kath

Kathleen - thanks for posting that url...so this is the technique you've been telling us about that has been so helpful. I went to the site and there is actually an instructor within a 1/2 hour distance. I've already emailed her....for her to compare what I already do with what ART is. Of course I'm interested in learning anything that will be helpful for Maia and others.

Thanks again,
francine

Francine

Remember what I said the pressure is very strong...

I asked my PT about kids and he said it would have to be adjusted...

Kath

Thanks for the replies folks, I was hoping someone had experience of pilates they could relate but no worries. Interesting link Kath.. and George I had quite bad contacture of bicep when i was out of the slings, (could hardly bend past the sling position) strong enough so triceps couldn't overcome it and straighten my elbow. A PT taught me how to stretch it back out gradually, and said to always massage it first to warm and prevent tears. Took a long time to get it stretched as it is tho, good luck!.

Dave,
Sorry to come into this late.
We had a pilates demonstration at camp last summer and the instructor focused on how pilates could help with bpi, focusing on the stretching and the balance issues. It has been in the back of my mind to find a pilates class or instructor but there is just no time! Maybe when I retire.
Nancy