What is an Occupational Therapist?
Occupational therapists, or OTs are health care professionals who help people to improve their health and function. They use movements, education and specific treatment techniques to help people be more able.
OTs are experts in movement planning and function. They use their skills to help overcome you overcome challenges that prevent you living your best life.
What qualifications do occupational therapists have?
Occupational therapists must complete a 3 year university degree and they must maintain their registration through continued professional development.
After they qualify occupational therapists go on to gain experience in a variety of clinical specialisms before choosing one. Many OTs do more formal qualifications and postgraduate courses in their chosen specialism. Pilates is one of these specialist skill sets.
What can occupational therapists bring to Pilates instruction?
Did you know ‘Pilates instructor’ is not a protected title. So, being a Pilates instructor does not guarantee any minimum qualifications or standards.
But being a OT does. Working with a physiotherapist or with our OT or specialist nurse means that your instructor has degree level understanding of how bodies work and move.
OT Pilates Instructors, like physiotherapists, have a minimum of 3yrs and 1000 clinical hours working with clients before they even leave university. They have to pass examinations and continually prove they are providing evidence based, up-to-date and effective treatment.
Our OT led classes are particularly function based. They involve lots of balance work and co-ordination and are excellent for those wanting a general whole body work out.
What about Pop up Pilates Pilates?
Pilates is a set of exercises. Our clinical team bring the knowledge of movement, anatomy and rehabilitation to use these exercises to help YOU.
Our clinical team can assess and understand your body, your movement and your problems. They will help you to build a Pilates programme just for you, even in a group setting. They will use Pilates exercise, education and sometimes manual techniques to address your problems and achieve your goals.
Susie, our OT works in community health and falls prevention. She leads our Gold classes for older adults.
Our diverse physiotherapy team includes experts in musculoskeletal health, women’s health, orthopaedics, paediatrics, emergency medicine, chronic pain and respiratory. Because of this, whatever your goal – one of our team will be perfectly equipped to help you.