Research shows that survivors of breast cancer benefit from exercise in general and particularly need strength training. Additional research shows that Pilates exercises increase flexibility, and greatly add to the quality of life for survivors. Restoration on the MOTR®, an exciting new tool from Balanced Body®, (not included in course price), allows survivors of any age group to have the option of adding Pilates-based strength development. The MOTR®, pictured, combines the comfort of a foam roller with the challenge of three weight-level resistances, giving you a challenging and incredibly diverse workout tool. Find out more about how to order the MOTR® here.
The hallmark of the MOTR®, Movement on the Roller, is strength development. The MOTR® is a device that is the shape of a cylindrical foam roller with a T-bar on one end with pulleys attached that are able to deliver progressive amounts of small weights up to about 20 pounds cumulatively. Its design includes 2 small rubber stands to give stability to the rounded bottom. The T-bar, weighing approximately 6 pounds, can detach to use the T-portion as a weight itself. It is portable, weighing about 12 pounds, and affordable for not only instructor studio teaching use, but also as an excellent adjunct piece of home exercise equipment. Although not a part of the original apparatus designed by Joseph Pilates, the MOTR® is now an integral tool for portable Pilates Method-based instruction.
Research shows that survivors of breast cancer benefit from exercise in general and particularly need strength training. Additional research shows that Pilates exercises increase flexibility, and greatly add to the quality of life for survivors. Restoration on the MOTR® allows survivors of any age group to have the option of adding Pilates-based strength development.
A section is devoted to how to assemble the MOTR® and gives alternatives for sitting on higher surfaces for individual comfort. THIS DVD and course ARE SPECIFICALLY NOT INTENDED FOR THOSE WITH OSTEOPOROSIS.
Dr. Suzanne Martin, DPT, ACSM Certified Cancer Exercise Specialist, ACSM Exercise Physiologist and Certified Lymphatic Therapist, presents and demonstrates a progressive set of 6 Levels of Difficulty of Pilates-based exercises specifically designed for the needs of upper body restoration from surgery. The DVD is also useful for anyone desiring to follow a stepped approach to upper body strength.
In the introduction, Dr. Martin explains survivors are not only recommended to do strengthening exercises but need lymphatic pumping exercises and scar and fascial reshaping to fully recover from surgical procedures. For this reason, the exercises also benefit anyone recovering from any kind of upper-body surgeries.
The adapted Pilates exercises start with a warm-up and progress to a shoulder warm-up with the T-bar. Dr. Martin calls out Levels of Difficulty throughout the exercises so that instructors and exercisers can quickly identify how to start at a low level or modify the exercises for their level. The exercises go through phases from pulling in an open kinetic chain in both standing and sitting to pushing in an open kinetic chain seated position. They progress to single arm use, increasing difficulty with pull to push exercises, combining more difficult planes of transition. Closed kinetic chain exercises progress from low axis, meaning bearing weight on the forearms to full high axis, bearing weight on the wrists. Forward planks (Leg Pull Front), side lying hip lifts and backwards planks (Leg Pull Back) complete the closed kinetic chain exercises. A warm-down ends the workout on a mindful note. Over 30 exercises are demonstrated in this DVD.
This video inspires Pilates instructors to use the MOTR® for this special population of survivors. There is a subtle difference between the art of teaching and the art of instructing. Teaching imparts theories, concepts, ideas or history. The goal of this video course is to instruct Pilates Method providers, giving them tools and embodying the physical tasks themselves in order to implement a safe program for survivors.
Stravinsky said, “In order to create, there must be a dynamic force, and what force is more potent than love?” When working with survivors, there must be love.
List of Objectives
At the end of this course, the participant will better understand:
- The necessity for restoration of the chest wall after breast cancer treatments
- The necessity for fascial re-shaping due to adhesions and scar tissue likely occurs post-operatively and after radiation procedures
- The necessity of ongoing lymphatic pumping exercise to promote normalization of fluid retention due to treatment procedures
- The necessity for a stepped progression for strength re-acquisition after breast cancer treatments
- How to assemble, de-construct the MOTR® as well as regulate the resistance and modify the use of the MOTR® if a client cannot sit upon it
- How to instruct a rhythmic warm-up using the T-bar focusing on upper body preparatory actions to safely accept resistance
- How to instruct twenty-one exercises progressing from open mechanical chain to closed mechanical chain strength development
- How to instruct a rhythmic warm down to end a Pilates MOTR® workout.
