Clinical Pilates has been a frequently recommended care in clinical practice for various health conditions, but it continues to be confused with traditional Pilates by many of the people who seek it.
Let us clarify the differences between Clinical Pilates and traditional Pilates
Traditional Pilates is a form of physical exercise that contributes to the improvement of strength, mobility and body awareness, being a suitable option for those who are healthy and want to remain active. Clinical Pilates, on the other hand, is a therapeutic approach, guided by physiotherapists, which uses movement as a treatment and prevention tool, taking into account the clinical history, complaints, limitations and real objectives of the person being monitored (Cruz-Díaz et al., 2015; da Silva et al., 2019; ScienceDirect, 2025).
Clinical Pilates in Charneca da Caparica, developed at MaterClinic, emerges as a structured, supervised and adapted therapeutic intervention for each person. The follow-up begins with an individual assessment, from which objectives adjusted to the function and response of the body to movement are defined. Each session is adapted to how the person moves at that moment, what they need to work on and what should be protected. It is for this reason that Clinical Pilates is often recommended for those who have persistent pain, have undergone injuries or surgeries, are pregnant, postpartum, have pelvic floor changes or other musculoskeletal conditions.
How many Clinical Pilates sessions per week make sense?
Weekly frequency is one of the most asked questions by those looking for Clinical Pilates in Charneca da Caparica. Based on the available scientific evidence, the frequency we recommend is one session per week, since there were no significant differences in the speed of results when Pilates was performed more regularly over a six-week period (da Silva et al., 2019).
This data contradicts the idea that “more sessions” automatically lead to faster results and reinforces the importance of exercise adequacy and consistency over time. It is important to remember that the purpose of Clinical Pilates is therapeutic and not a conventional training plan.
And what about intensity: is more intense better?
A clinical trial compared higher and lower intensity Pilates programs in people with chronic low back pain and found no clinically relevant differences in pain or functional disability outcomes between the groups (ScienceDirect, 2025). On the other hand, lower intensity programs were associated with fewer adverse events, which suggests that individual tolerance to exercise is a determining factor in the results obtained (ScienceDirect, 2025).
Clinical Pilates in Pregnancy: What the Evidence Allows Us to Affirm
Available studies show reduced lower back and pelvic pain, improvements in functionality and a more positive perception of quality of life during pregnancy in women who participated in structured Pilates programs. These programs were considered feasible and safe when adapted to individual needs, with no reports of relevant adverse effects (BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 2024).
Some investigations also indicate that, in Pilates programs carried out during pregnancy, there was an association with reduced duration of labor, lower intensity of pain during childbirth and a more positive perceived childbirth experience when compared to groups that received only usual care. It is important to be clear: these results do not mean that Pilates guarantees these outcomes, but that there is an association observed in controlled studies (PubMed 17364300; PubMed 35109917).
Clinical Pilates at MaterClinic, in Charneca da Caparica
It is in this context that Clinical Pilates makes sense at MaterClinic. The approach follows what scientific evidence describes: individualized monitoring, focus on function and respect for the limits and objectives of each person, without promises that go beyond what scientific data allow us to affirm.
For those looking for Clinical Pilates in Charneca da Caparica based on solid knowledge, transparency and clinical responsibility, this difference is not a detail. It is the central point.
Scientific references
Cruz-Díaz, D., Bergamin, M., Gobbo, S., Martínez-Amat, A., & Hita-Contreras, F. (2015). Comparative effects of Pilates-based exercise on pain, functional disability and quality of life in women with chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled trial. Clinical Rehabilitation, 29 (9), 868–879. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269215514564893
da Silva, ML, Martins, JP, Souza, JL, et al. (2019). Does the frequency of Pilates-based exercises influence pain and disability in people with chronic low back pain? A randomized controlled trial. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 35(10), 971–980. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2018.1479479
Gonçalves, MM, et al. (2023). Effects of Pilates-based exercise on pain, depression, and anxiety in individuals with chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 33, 230–236. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36946839/
Oliveira, L.P., et al. (2025). High- versus low-intensity Pilates for chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled trial. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1836955325000141
Chen, Y., et al. (2024). Effects of Pilates exercise during pregnancy on pain, physical function, and quality of life: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 24, Article 785. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06785-5
Hall, D.C., Kaufmann, D.A., & Resnick, R. (2007). The effect of aerobic and strength conditioning on pregnancy outcomes. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 197(5), 507.e1–507.e7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17364300/
Gong, J., et al. (2022). Effects of Pilates exercise during pregnancy on delivery outcomes and maternal health: A randomized controlled trial. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 22, Article 152. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35109917/