When most people think of Pilates, they think of core strength. But for athletes in the heat of pre-season, Reformer Pilates is about eccentric power and joint resilience. The reformer’s unique system of springs and pulleys allows us to challenge your body in “athletic” positions while managing load. Here is how we use the reformer to bulletproof your body for your specific sport.
Basketball: Vertical Power & The Loaded Landing
In basketball, your power comes from the ground up, but injuries happen when you come back down.
- The Reformer Edge: Using the Jumpboard on the Reformer, we can train “plyometric” jumping while lying down. This allows you to practice explosive power and perfect landing mechanics without the full force of gravity, making it the perfect way to build calf and quad capacity before you hit the hardwood.
- The Benefit: Greater vertical leap and reduced risk of “jumper’s knee” (patellar tendinopathy).
Football (AFL & Soccer): Pelvic Power & Kicking Range
Footballers require massive amounts of “anti-shear” strength in the pelvis to handle high-velocity kicking and rapid changes of direction.
- The Reformer Edge: Exercises like “The Scooter” or “Side Splits” on the moving carriage force the deep hip stabilizers (glutes and adductors) to work under tension. This mimics the instability of a muddy pitch while strengthening the groin.
- The Benefit: Enhanced kicking power and a significant reduction in the risk of groin strains or Osteitis Pubis (OP).
Netball: Precision Stability for the “Sticking” Landing
Netball is a sport of sudden stops. Most ACL and ankle injuries occur during that split-second “sticking” of a landing.
- The Reformer Edge: By performing single-leg work on a moving carriage, we challenge your proprioception (your brain’s ability to sense joint position). The springs provide a “live” resistance that forces your knee and ankle to stabilize against lateral forces.
- The Benefit: “Bulletproof” ankles and knees that are trained to remain stable even when the landing isn’t perfect.
The Practitioner’s Perspective
Pre-season shouldn’t just be about how fast you can run; it should be about how well you can move under load. At Bellarine and Torquay Sports Medicine, our practitioners use the Reformer to bridge the gap between “getting out of pain” and “peak performance.”
If you want to ensure your 2026 season is your most durable one yet, it’s time to shift gears from general fitness to clinical capacity. One on one assessments and sessions are offered by osteopaths Alannah at Torquay Sports Medicine Centre and Peta at bodylab health.