Physical Therapy | |
What is Pilates-Based Physical Therapy?
Pilates-Based Physical Therapy (PBPT) is an approach to healing grounded in the moving body. We assess and treat the whole person, not just an injury or symptom, through Pilates exercises and traditional physical therapy modalities. We are particularly adept at analyzing and correcting maladaptive movement patterns and muscle recruitment sequences that can cause you pain. We believe that you can feel better when you move better.
Pilates-Based Physical Therapy at InsideOut will encourage you to take an active role in your recovery. PBPT asks you to learn and engage in new ways of moving, new ways of listening to your body, and new ways of taking care of yourself. As an active participant, your benefits will be maximized and your healing time shortened. As you learn to listen to your body more attentively, future injury can also be prevented. We will teach you the skills you need to maintain your gains once treatment has ended. If you are interested, we can also help you incorporate Pilates sessions and classes into your everyday life.
Why should I choose Pilates-Based Physical Therapy at InsideOut Body Therapies?
PBPT at InsideOut Body Therapies is founded on the idea that a small, patient-centered, movement-oriented approach to physical therapy can offer patients an unrivaled possibility for healing. PBPT is grounded in the therapeutic movements and techniques of classical Pilates as well as traditional physical therapy modalities.
If you have ever experienced traditional physical therapy, you will notice immediately that things are very different at InsideOut Body Therapies.
- You will always be seen by one primary therapist for the full course of your treatment. The time of treatment is agreed upon by the therapist and patient and varies from 30-90 minutes of one-on-one care.
- Therapeutic exercises are performed entirely on our Pilates equipment.
- Our rehabilitation exercise programs are individualized to your specific interests and needs.
- We spend time with our patients to assure specific muscle groups are being used correctly and in proper recruitment sequence in order to prevent compensation and potentially harmful movement patterns.
- You will become an active participant in your care through education on maintenance and injury prevention. This allows you to gain maximum benefit from physical therapy and gives you the ability to maintain strength and flexibility gains long after physical therapy ends.
We know that in this managed healthcare environment, time and money are both limited. At InsideOut, we spend the quality time necessary to treat our patients effectively and efficiently. We will take the time to listen to you and assess your condition accurately. Then, we will create and personally guide you through an individualized, multi-disciplinary treatment plan that is interesting, challenging, efficient, and effective.
We understand you have many options for your rehabilitation, but we believe you will find the quality of care and level of personal attention provided at InsideOut Body Therapies to be unsurpassed.
Where did Pilates come from?
Although Pilates has recently become a popular form of exercise for healthy and active people, Joseph Pilates originally developed his method of exercise for men wounded in World War I. He even invented specialized exercise equipment for injured soldiers so they could exercise and recuperate while confined to hospital beds. After Pilates came to New York in the 1920s, his technique and equipment became a popular approach to physical training and injury rehabilitation among dancers, actors, and singers. Rooted in rehabilitation and healing, Pilates provides a profoundly effective framework from which to make physical therapy interventions.
What is all this Pilates equipment I keep hearing about?
Today's spring-loaded Pilates equipment has evolved over the decades to facilitate recovery from a variety of different injuries and coordination difficulties. Spring tension gives the body proprioceptive feedback, which in turn stimulates the gravity orientation (or postural) system of your body. Effective and appropriate stabilization and sequencing can then be trained so that these new skills are easily integrated into your daily life. Many Pilates exercises are performed lying down on the equipment which can facilitate a gentle progression from non-weight bearing to full weight bearing activities. When you have success with movement and a positive movement experience, you can shift the perception that movement causes pain.
Pilates equipment is versatile, allowing for many different body types, sizes, and conditions to be comfortably accommodated.
Who is the Pilates-Based Physical Therapist at InsideOut Body Therapies?
Mischa Abshire, DPT, holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Duke University and a BS in Exercise and Sport Sciences from the University of Florida. She has worked for the past two years at NovaCare Rehabilitation in Chapel Hill, NC. At NovaCare, Dr. Abshire worked with a wide variety of orthopedic injuries and developed a Women's Health program. Prior to her experience at NovaCare, she interned at Duke University's Durham Rehabilitation Institute, as well as in Las Vegas, NV at Jack D. Close and Associates.
Dr. Abshire is a Certified Pilates Instructor earning her certification through The Pilates Center in Boulder, CO. The Pilates Center is under the direction of Amy Alpers and Rachel Segel, proteges of Romana Kryzanowska who was a long-time student of Joseph Pilates. She has apprenticed for the last two years with Deborah Jarboe Matthews, owner of InsideOut Body Therapies, Certified Pilates Instructor, and Rehabilitation Specialist.
Dr. Abshire's love of movement began with the childhood study of ballet, modern dance, and theater. She first learned about Pilates at age fourteen while attending the Princeton Ballet School's summer workshop. Several of the dancers used Pilates to recover from injuries and continue dancing. After witnessing the effectiveness of Pilates in rehabilitating injuries that summer, she knew that she wanted to one day integrate Pilates into a physical therapy practice. She has since worked in many different settings including the American Dance Festival, hospital-based acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient orthopedics. She continues to explore how Pilates can support and transform the practice of physical therapy while facilitating a positive movement experience for her patients.
Dr. Abshire is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, (including the Orthopedic and Women's Health Sections), the North Carolina Physical Therapy Association, and the Pilates Method Alliance.
What do you charge and how long will the session last?
- Initial Evaluation: $120
- Follow-up physical therapy sessions: $75 (1 hour); $45 (30 minutes)
What types of injuries can be helped by Pilates-Based Physical Therapy?
- Acute and chronic low back pain
- Sciatica
- Overuse injuries
- Tendonitis
- Headaches and neck pain
- Repetitive stress disorders
- Foot and ankle pain
- Postural issues
- Pelvic and spinal instability
- Shoulder pain
- Women's health issues
- Orthopedic injuries
- Neurological and balance disorders
- Scoliosis
What can I expect in a Pilates-Based Physical Therapy session?
The initial physical therapy session will include a thorough hands-on evaluation of the joints and soft tissues involved, as well as a full postural and movement analysis during which asymmetries, alignment issues, and movement patterns will be assessed. Dr. Abshire will convey her findings to you and develop a plan of care to address these findings.
During your course of physical therapy the following modalities and techniques may be used in addition to Pilates:
- Manual therapy techniques such as soft tissue work and joint mobilizations.
- Ultrasound, electrical stimulation, iontophoresis, and heat and ice therapies to decrease pain, increase tissue healing, improve muscle contraction, and decrease inflammation.
What should I wear to a PBPT session?
Wear clothes that you feel comfortable moving in. Sweat pants, shorts, and t-shirts are all perfectly acceptable. Pilates is done in bare or sock feet.
How long will I need to come for PBPT?
The length of a physical therapy treatment plan is highly individualized and depends on the specific diagnosis of each patient. Most patients receive therapy twice a week for 4-6 weeks, but this can vary based on need.
Can I continue Pilates after I finish PBPT?
Upon completion of your Pilates-Based Physical Therapy plan of care, we can help you transition into classes and/or individualized Pilates lessons. This will allow you to continue the strengthening and healing process and maintain the benefits you attained during physical therapy.
Can I be seen without a physician's referral?
In the state of North Carolina you may be seen by a physical therapist without a doctor's referral. If you would like to be evaluated without a physician's referral, you may be treated unless the therapist feels there is a need for further diagnostic testing or evaluation. If you are under the direct care of a physician, the therapist will send her findings to your physician.
Does InsideOut file insurance for PBPT?
Mischa Abshire is an In-Newtwork provider with Blue Cross Blue Shield. The patient is responsible for his or her copayment at the time of service and we will file the claim with BCBS. For all other insurance companies we do not file claims directly, but we will gladly give you a detailed invoice upon completion of each session to allow you to file independently with your insurance company. We have forms for several of the major insurance companies in the area and will provide you with the claim form, itemized bill, address of your insurance company's claims department, and an envelope to make filing as simple as possible.
If you are planning on filing with your insurance company, it is important to determine whether your insurance company requires a doctor's referral in order to be seen by a physical therapist. Although it is not a requirement by the state, some insurance companies require a physician referral in order to reimburse for physical therapy services.
How do I begin?
Either call the studio to schedule an appointment at 919.361.0104 or email Dr. Abshire at pt@insideoutbodytherapies.com