The first symptom is often a painful twinge in the knee, or maybe some stiffness in your fingers. Like wrinkles and grey hair, creaky joints are the first sign of growing old – and can herald years of chronic pain.

The cause is usually wear and tear or osteoarthritis. This leaves millions on anti-inflammatory and painkilling drugs, while every year thousands of others end up having joint replacement operations.

Genetics, nutrition and illness all have a role to play in how long our cartilage lasts. But how you use your joints – and the muscles, ligaments and tendons around them – is also vital. Click here to learn how to avoid and limit joint damage, including food and exercise to put the spring back in your step.

Coming soon!

We are in the process of developing a course specifically for personal trainers.

Please contact us if you are a personal trainer for more info or to assist in course development/organisation.

Recently we have been contacted by several Pilates clinics including Powerhouse Pilates (a part of Pilates Method Alliance)owing to our reputation for high standard of training courses to assist in their search for exceptional Physios trained in Pilates.

Job offers will be announced on our courses.  Also, the register of FPP trained Physios will be visible on the new website so that potential clients and employees across spain and the UK can find a Fisioplus Pilates trained physio in their area.

We are currently collaborating with The Vital Touch massage clinic Barcelona and are working with the performers of The Opera Show, the hottest dance and musical show in Barcelona this season. Read on to see an interview with one of the stars and how FPP has made a difference to his rehab and performance.

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Dharmesh:

First let’s get a bit of info about you and Dance – When did you start dancing?

I started dancing at the age of 7 in the styles of Modern and Acro.

How would you describe the type of dance that you do?

The types of dancing I do now are very diverse and completely different in techniques. I perform Tap, Contemporary, Jazz, Lockin’, Poppin’ and Boogaloo, House and street dance Routines. Although I’ve been trained at one of London’s finest performing arts colleges Doreen Bird. Here I was trained in Ballet, Contact, Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet and Jazz PDD and Musical theatre for three years so I can perform these disciplines of dance also. I graduated with a Diploma in Musical Theatre so I learned Drama and Singing here as well.

Whats the best dance job you’ve ever landed and why?

The best job I’ve ever had in terms of everything will be the Opera Show when I did it at Kilworth House Theatre.

Do you have a favorite show that you’ve been part of?

I can’t decide a favorite show that I’ve been a part of but as it is one of the many shows I’ve performed at with Plague, for instance Plague’s 2009 BBC 3 Debut on the TV program Move like Michael Jackson. Here are the links in the correct order we performed them in.

Discover here why FPP is so important in the world of dance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K-SKY83Y90&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSe7xHY-eX4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9843KPh_Whw&feature=related

I hear you have a signature move, what is it?

My signature move when I dance is in the discipline of tap as that’s my strength and I love that style which is where I clip my heels whilst doing a back somersault as a finishing move.

At the moment you are in Barcelona with The Opera Show, tell us a bit about the show and your role.

In the Opera show I play 3 different roles for the 3 different acts that the show is divided up into. Act 1 I’m a clown and my character where’s union jack flag colors red, white and blue, I have a mohawk wig with face paint and I’m very animated. I pop, wave, tick, strobe and boogaloo and I’m the servant for the duke and I’m very clumsy and silly and cowardly.

Act 2 I’m a angry young Spanish man who doesn’t have any family apart from Tanya who is my sister and I live in a house with people whom I’m not particularly fond of. But Act 2 is set in a Spanish war period so we stick together in as a family. But my role is I have no family just me and my sister and I’m angry and I’m upset but putting on a brave face and trying my best to provide for her. Act 3 I start off as a mysterious actor but I get to perform my tap number against a violinist and I go all out and show off my hidden talents of tap!

What do you think of Barcelona?

Barcelona is an amazing city so relaxing and beautiful, the landscape and the Gaudi buildings and places are amazing and unique for sure.

Whilst you’ve been in town you’ve been unfortunate and picked up a couple of injuries and have been working with Zoe at Fisioplus Pilates. What are the injuries you’ve been working with?  How did they happen and have you had to modify your performance because of them?

I dislocated my shoulder and I had been given exercises to strengthen them and to be able to control it better so that it didn’t feel like it was hanging out of my socket. I did this by flipping off a raised platform and landing terribly. I had to modify my performance by not flipping and not putting any weight on my hands.

Being a dancer you must have had to work with many physiotherapists during your career, what did you like about the Fisioplus Pilates approach?

I thought that the Fisioplus Pilates approach was very ideal for me as I was learning exercises to have the knowledge to be able to heal myself whilst receiving treatment at the same time. Killing two birds with 1 stone! Also the exercises not only treat me better but improve my performance to a higher standard when practiced properly.

How did the sessions help you?  What have you learnt?

The sessions helped me by me learning exercises and me receiving acupuncture and massage to release my muscles. I’ve learned various exercises and I’ve learned what muscles they exercise and strengthen or lengthen and I’ve learned how to activate deeper muscles and how to use the correct muscles for movements rather than relying on my strong incorrect muscles to do the job for me.

You’ve only had 2 weeks of treatment, have you noticed progress already?  If so what?

I’ve noticed loads of improvement, I can control my shoulder better, I’m pain free and I’m using correct muscles to do the work.

Do you feel you can carry on improving after these sessions?

I feel I can improve by continuing these simple exercises and building the correct muscles so that the incorrect ones i have been using can have a break for once.

Would you recommend Fisioplus Pilates to your colleagues/friends?

I would recommend Fisioplus Pilates approach to all dancers as they can not only learn to not get better rapidly quick but to be able to grow stronger to be more controlled and stronger performers with much less chance of injury again.

Thanks Dharmesh, you really are a star!!