Mills assessed me while I tried a few different exercises, and it became clear that I have a very weak right quad, which is perhaps unusual given that I’m right-handed (and legged).

She explained that my leg kept wanting to turn in while other parts of my body were overcompensating. This was leading to tightness in my hips and weakness elsewhere. She told me to focus on alignment of my knee and hip in my next pilates class and to focus on deep core control too. She also recommended I strengthen up my VMO and quads with exercises including straight leg raises, wall sits and decline squats. Foam rolling was also key to the tightness and pain I was getting and so following Mills’ advice, I started foam rolling my thighs and hamstrings a lot, as well as incorporating hip flexor stretches. Within a month, my quad issues felt much better, and I was back to my regular running schedule.

The session Mills gave me is the kind of advice she and her colleagues give clients in the ‘intro sessions’ offered at her practice. “One of our physiotherapists conducts an in-depth assessment of your posture, control and muscular endurance,” Mills says. These sessions aren’t the same as a full-on physiotherapy appointment where you receive a treatment plan for a more serious injury. However, it is perfect for someone with a niggle.

“This appointment is perfect for clients whose pain is now controlled, don’t need hands-on treatment and are in the rehab stage and want to use pilates as a way of strengthening and preventing further injury,” Mills says.

Core LDN isn’t the only physio that offers reformer pilates in rehab; others include London City Physiotherapy and reCentre Health, the latter of which holds ‘clinical pilates’ sessions for injuries.

Pilates are even recommended by a doctor because of its benefits. “Pilates is often recommended by a doctor or a physio for back or postural-related pain, as a safe way to exercise in pregnancy and post-natal and for core whole body strengthening in a low-impact way,” Mills says.

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