FlowPilates and lumbar spinal stenosis
This is how FlowMat builds pilates classes for a student with lumbar spinal stenosis. They are the app's real rules, reviewed by a medical committee: what isn't recommended is never suggested, and what needs care comes with a warning for the teacher.
500 exercises in the catalog
Guidance for the class
Exercises FlowMat does not suggest
These are 2 of the catalog's exercises that FlowMat keeps out of the class when this condition is present.
Exercises that come with a warning
Examples of exercises that do appear, with the guidance the teacher gets.
Lift only the chest a few inches and avoid arching your lower back; keep your belly drawn in throughout.
Keep the pelvis still and avoid arching the lower back; if there’s acute pain, skip it.
Keep the leg on a higher diagonal and avoid full extension if you feel discomfort.
Work with a reduced range, prioritizing a neutral spine over leg height.
Work with a moderate forward lean and an active core, without extending the low back.
Work with a smaller range, prioritizing a neutral spine over leg height.
Work with a smaller range, prioritizing a neutral spine over the height of the thigh.
Keep the abdomen active and avoid tilting the pelvis too far back.
Limit the pelvic tilt and keep your core active to avoid compressing the lower back.
Don't roll all the way up into full extension; finish in a neutral spine.
Limit the bridge height and keep the abdomen active to avoid loading the low back.
Keep the pelvis fixed and avoid arching the lower back; skip it if you have acute pain.
and 65 more in the app's catalog.
Frequently asked questions
Can you do pilates with lumbar spinal stenosis?
It depends on each person and on what their treating doctor says. FlowMat does not replace that judgment: it helps the teacher plan the class, avoiding what isn't recommended with lumbar spinal stenosis and flagging what needs care.
What does FlowMat do with exercises that are not recommended?
It never suggests them when building the class, and they don’t show up as a replacement when you swap an exercise either.
Can I change the class FlowMat builds?
Yes. You can swap, remove, add or reorder exercises and adjust the reps. The catalog only offers exercises that are safe for the student.