5 Paediatric Pilates exercises to try today!

Following on from last week and my love of Pilates I thought I would pull some from our latest course addition : Our exercise database magazine that will be available very soon for purchase. Our most recent course intake members will be getting theirs in the mail any day now! Fresh from the printers! 

Here are some of my favourites! 

1.Arabesque or Seesaw

Benefits

Motor: Useful for hip stability, hamstring flexibility, strength and ROM. Glute activation, Core activation, ankle stability & balance.

Sensory: It requires body awareness and position stimulating the proprioceptive system. It incorporates posture and balance triggering the vestibular system 

Cognitive: Incorporate imagination and play and counting. 

Social Emotional: Work in a group, create challenges and incorporate the breath

Language: Receptive language skills by following instructions and breaking down prescription. Expressive language skills by inviting them to create stories about the exercise. 

Instances to use: Stability issues, balancing issues, hip instability, weak glute activation

Sports Specific in particular: running sports

Common faults: pronating or supinating feet (feet and/or knees rolling in or out)

2.Rocketjumps

Benefits

Motor: Lower body, Leg and glute strength and power, balance, core stability, flexibility and range of motion in ankles, joint strength and health.

Sensory: jumping is great for our proprioception and body awareness 

Cognitive: Incorporate imagination and play and counting. 

Social Emotional: Play a game where you trick them and challenge them. Work in a group, create challenges and incorporate the breath

Language : Receptive language skills by following instructions and breaking down prescription. Expressive language skills by inviting them to create stories about the exercise. 

Instances to use: High energy so boosting stimulation, incorporate counting and jumping to enhance attention and concentrating. Strengthening program.

Common fault: Bend at hip not knee (bringing head down), come all the way down to ground and hover just off ground

3. Walk out / Incy wincy spider 

Benefits

Motor: Core activation, spine mobility and flexibility, hamstring flexibility, core stability, shoulder strength and stability, coordination & comprehension. Great preparation for fine motor skill 

Sensory : Copying ability: awareness & proprioception, walking hands over different surfaces, changing head position.

Cognitive : Incorporate imagination and play and counting. Building strong core endurance and function which will help with focus. 

Social Emotional: Work in a group, create challenges and incorporate the breath

Language : Receptive language skills by following instructions and breaking down prescription. Expressive language skills by inviting them to create stories about the exercise. 

Instances to use: Increase flexibility, spine mobility, core stability and strength and shoulder stability

Movement Faults: dropping hips

4. Tree stretch 

Benefits

Motor: Enhances balance, stability and flexibility throughout hips, core and shoulders.

Sensory : balance, body position and awareness, opportunity to change head position. 

Cognitive : using opposing sides of the body  and crossing midline recruiting both sides of the brain. Incorporate imagination and play and counting. 

Social Emotional : Work in a group, create challenges and incorporate the breath

Language : Receptive language skills by following instructions and breaking down prescription. Expressive language skills by inviting them to create stories about the exercise. 

Instances to use: Stability & Flexibility, coordination and concentration. Lower back pain and tight anterior hips. Balance and core stability. 

Common fault: sitting on foot, falling off to side and balancing difficulty

5. Bicycles 

Benefits

Motor: Core stability, body awareness, coordination and concentration

Sensory : Body positioning and awareness, apply hands on feedback to help with guiding through movement. 

Cognitive : Utilises concentration, counting and is simple to incorporate imagination and play and counting. 

Social Emotional : Work in a group, do pretend race, create challenges and incorporate the breath

Language : Practice concepts like up and down, fast and slow. Receptive language skills by following instructions and breaking down prescription. Expressive language skills by inviting them to create stories about the exercise. 

Instances to use: Incorporate into games, enhance core stability, back pain or ROM issues

Common Faults: Movement through back, kicking bottom and not extending legs at all.