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Pilates on George

Pilates on George

Movement notes

Rotator Cuff Pain: How the Research Changed (And What It Means for You)

Movement moment

Movement Notes — Pilates on George — by Olya Kudryavtseva

QUICK ANSWER (TL;DR)

The rotator cuff is four muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis) that stabilise the shoulder. Cuff tears are very common in pain-free older adults and are present in over 60% of people over 80. The structural impingement model has been replaced by “rotator cuff related shoulder pain.” Progressive loading is the evidence-based first-line treatment. Surgery is rarely needed.

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Ligament Tear Grades I, II, and III: What They Mean and How to Rehab

Movement moment

Movement Notes – Pilates on George – by Olya Kudryavtseva

QUICK ANSWER (TL;DR)

Ligament tears are graded I (microscopic damage, no laxity), II (partial tear, some laxity), and III (complete rupture, significant instability).

Healing follows three phases: inflammatory (0–7 days), proliferative (1–6 weeks), and remodelling (6 weeks–12+ months). Controlled, progressive loading is now the evidence-based approach and we know that prolonged rest weakens tissue. Pilates is well-suited to phase-matched rehab.

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Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Why Flexion Provides Relief (and What to Do About It)

Movement moment

QUICK ANSWER (TL;DR)

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces around the spinal cord and nerves, most commonly caused by age-related changes. Forward bending (flexion) increases canal volume and relieves symptoms, which is why sufferers lean on shopping trolleys. Flexion-based exercise programs, including clinical Pilates, have moderate-quality evidence for reducing pain and improving walking tolerance.

There’s a reason the older client in your life leans forward on the shopping trolley. There’s a reason they can ride a stationary bike for an hour but barely make it to the corner shop on foot.

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Disc Bulge vs Disc Herniation: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters

Movement moment

QUICK ANSWER (TL;DR)

A disc bulge is a generalised, age-related widening of the entire outer disc ring. A disc herniation is a focal tear where the soft inner gel pushes through the outer ring. Most disc bulges are normal age-related findings — present in 60% of pain-free 50-year-olds. Imaging findings ≠ pain. Pilates is generally safe and beneficial for both, with appropriate progression.

If you’ve ever walked out of a radiologist’s office with an MRI report that says “disc bulge” or “disc herniation”, you’ve probably had two thoughts: what does this actually mean, and what am I allowed to do now?

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Do I actually have bad posture

Movement moment

If you’ve ever caught your reflection in a shop window and thought “oh no… my shoulders are slouching forward and I look like a question mark”, welcome to the club.

Most people have a mental image of “good posture” that looks very military like. Proud chest, Shoulders back, abs engaged + smile.

Bet there is an expectation and there is a reality. So this is one of those mis -matches. Think about your daily life… You probably sit for work, drive, pick up bags, scroll, breathe and don’t expect anybody to scrutinize you. But for some reason you are convinced your posture is the reason your neck is tight, your back hurts and your Pilates teacher keeps saying “engage your core.”

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Cue less, teach more — why the best instructors don’t fill every moment of silence

Movement moment

The myth: more cues = better teaching.

Most of us were taught to talk through every second of a class. To correct, direct, and fill every pause with instruction. I definetly did that and felt very awkward when I had nothing to say.

But here’s what the science (and my experience) shows: the nervous system doesn’t learn through words. It learns through experience and observation of one’s own movement.

While we preach awareness – do we actually encourage it? And how shall we define it? is it awareness that we bring to movement or the awareness that the client learns/experiences by themselves.

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