Correct activation of you deep core muscles is the key to breaking the cycle of recurrent back pain.

It is well documented that back pain inhibits or switches off the very muscles that should be stabilising your spine therefore just treating your spine will never really get you anywhere. As a patient you just enter a vicious cycle of pain, endless treatment and mismanagement which can go on for years.

We make it our mission for you to avoid this trap. Once we have restored your normal spinal movements and addressed your pain, it is time to teach you how to fire up those deep core muscles again and retrain how they work.

Once you can stabilise your core muscles in the correct way we make the exercises more dynamic and involve more functional activities. Then the strength work can begin! Most of us are guilty of not being strong enough for the demands we place on our bodies whether that’s in a sporting or work environment. It is our aim to get you stable and then get you strong.

We have many tricks to help you achieve this but by far the best way is using diagnostic ultrasound which enables you to see your muscles working. We also use equipment such as gym balls, bands, TRX and weights. We can also refer you to one of our physio led Pilates classes.

We recognise that correct abdominal activation is essential in resolving recurrent, chronic and debilitating back pain.

Let’s face it, most of you know where your abdominals are, but that’s about it!!! We have all seen the confused looks when we ask you to “pull in your transverse abdominals” ????

That’s fine, we understand, that is why you need to see them working on a screen (or not as is often the case!) and so do we. We use a diagnostic ultrasound scanner; it’s just like when you see a baby scan.

We will identify the different layers of your abdominal muscles and then you can watch them contract and relax. Once you can recruit and stabilise your transverse abdominus the main core muscle, then we can make your rehab more functional teaching you to stabilise your spine while you perform more dynamic activities.

Patients often describe this as a real “eureka moment” when they can both see and feel their core muscles working and the starting point of resolving their back or pelvic pain once and for all.

Zoe is teaching the following classes at Overbury Village Hall

Tuesdays - 9.45am and 11am

Thursdays - 6pm and 7.15pm

Fridays - 9.45am and 11am

and the following at St Nicholas Church Hall, Swindon Lane, Cheltenham

Wednesday - 10.30am

Kirsty is running a 9.15am Wednesday class at Kemerton Village Hall.

Classes are £10 and run in terms of 6 weeks with payment (£60) being due at the start of each term.

Please contact the clinic for availability and to reserve your space.

We can also offer individual sessions on our Pilates Reformer. This incredibly versatile piece of equipment works using a moving platform and the resistance of springs to tone and strengthen the body as well as increasing flexibility.