This is a blog written by an exceptional client Tara who has found Pilates hugely beneficial in her recovery journey after a stroke. I worked with Tara before her stroke and was so happy to have her return to the studio.
Tara’s Journey
I had been doing Pilates for just over a year before my stroke. After the stroke, I was bed-bound for four months, rehabiliation included re gaining many physical actions that we take for granted including learning to walk again.
I came home in December 2022, restarting Pilates in May 2023. Learning to walk was the beginning of the ability to regain my balance and strength in my core. Pilates has been one of the most beneficial activities that has helped me with this.
I have Ataxia and proprioception. Ataxia is a group of disorders that affect coordination, balance and speech. Proprioception is a lack of sensation in my left hand and foot and the ability to know what my limbs are doing (unless I look at them). Pilates has improved all of these. My balance and core strength have significantly developed, improving my ability to walk safely. I now also have much more control and coordination of my left arm, the repetitive aspect of Pilates has helped gain muscle memory. I am working on the regaining the sensations in my left hand and foot, but this has not yet returned.
I've been able to develop techniques to help compensate for these issues. Once I know that I am in the correct position to do an exercise, my brain can register how I should be doing it, and eventually, my brain recognises that I am doing it correctly. All of this can be transferred into daily life. By doing Pilates, I have worked on my gait and, therefore, the ability to walk on different surfaces, both indoors and out. Pilates has also helped me to work on my coordination which influences my ability to do more things by myself, such as tying my shoelaces.
I'd recommend Pilates for anyone needing help to regain strength after a long-term illness or surgery. It's particularly brilliant for neurological injuries, as it works on Neuroplasticity. This is known as rewiring the brain. Doing repetitive tasks helps to rewire connections and activate muscle memory. Pilates will definitely be an ongoing activity, from a general fitness point of view and also to keep working on my ability to do everyday things safely. The extraordinary changes are all due to Karen. Thank you.
A note from Jenny Tara’s carer
I never knew the before Tara only the after Tara, but I have seen a very obvious improvement in all movements while watching the Pilates sessions. First came the ability to control and maintain the position of her left foot, followed by control of her left arm, which began to work in tandem with her right arm. Rebuilding her core strength has improved her balance and, natural walking gait. Amazingly, this has been accomplished without the return of feeling so it must be due to muscle memory and new pathway connections from the brain.
Thank you Karen for playing a big part in Tara’s recovery.
If you are curious to learn more about Tara or you know someone who has had a stroke then you can do so by visiting Tara's website www.lifegivesyoulemons.com which she created in order to help others like herself. You can also follow Tara on Instagram @lifegivesyoulemonsest2022 where she also shares more of her day to day achievements and recommendations. Please do chekc out her website or follow her on Instagram.