Index | Contact | Web Map | Accessibility | Orange

 

Pilates and autism

The Fundación Orange, alongside the Pilates Foundation, are for the second consecutive year running a course aimed at children with autism, to experience the physical and mental qualities of Pilates and thus gain greater control and balance over their bodies. This project provides Autistic children with a new leisure activity, in an area where there are not a lot of activities adapted to their needs.

That was the reason why in the first course, held at the beginning of 2009, we included several investigationparameters to determine the potential benefits of Pilates which were collected in a descriptive memory, downloadable in Spanish from the Fundación Orange website. Progress has been very positive in physical abilities as diverse as; the identification of the parts of the body, balance, obstacle recognition... likewise in psychological aspects such as personal interaction between students.

Prior to starting classes within the project investigation a series of tests using parameters and measurements selected for the occasion (postural analysis, testing, psycho, comprehension and oral expression, etc.) were carried out to evaluate the psycho-physical state of the children, under the supervision of a physiotherapist, a psychologist and a monitor. These same tests were repeated at the end of the course with positive results.

Classes are run under the close supervision of Pilates monitors and with the help of Orange employee volunteers to provide the necessary assistance to participants at all times.

The objective of Pilates is to unite the dynamism and muscular coordination with mental control, breathing and relaxation to increase strength, flexibility and bodily awareness as well as achieving a physical and mental balance. Created at the beginning of the century by German Joseph Hubertus Pilates, this method has gained a growing awareness because it can be done by people of all ages without requiring prior training or aerobic movements. In addition, fluid movements are widely used as therapy in rehabilitation or to prevent and treat back pain, or improve posture and concentration.