Why are there springs on Pilates equipment?

By: Gitte Peirano

When Joseph Pilates was rehabilitating wounded soldiers during World War I, he had no tools to use. So he used himself as physical resistance and assistance, but it quickly became quite strenuous.

So he started to develop his own training equipment based on what he had at his disposal. He used the springs from soldiers' beds to help those who needed it. And as resistance for those who needed more challenge (it later became a Reformer).

And it's actually exactly the same way we use the springs and the whole Pilates system today.
A spring with a little resistance can make an exercise both easier and harder. For example, if you stand in a plank on the Reformer with only one spring, it's really hard because you have to use almost every muscle in your body to avoid falling down. If you have more springs, it will be easier to hold the plank as the carriages will be less mobile and require less stability.

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The springs also help those who experience neck and throat pain when lifting the upper body, for example when doing sit-ups. This is where the springs on a Cadillac/Tower can be a big help. They can help keep the upper body lifted, helping you to rise above the point that is weak and perhaps also less mobile. This is one of the reasons why we love our Springboards (a variation of the Tower) in the Matwork classes. They allow everyone to do sit-ups and keep their upper body lifted - without hurting their neck or throat.
But for more advanced customers, we can also use the springs as resistance. For example, when they have to do sit-ups, so they have to work their abs even deeper to keep their upper body lifted.

Springs are also an effective aid for those who are stiff and have back pain. Here, the springs can help keep the upper body stable while focusing on moving the less mobile parts of the back. Slowly, the body gets stronger and it becomes easier and easier to do the exercises without help. And that's exactly why Mr Pilates invented all that amazing equipment almost 100 years ago. To help, build and advance the workout, so that everyone from highly trained athletes to beginners can get the most out of their workout.

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