Pilates-based Physical Therapy

A woman is doing pilates on the floor

Pilates-Based Physical Therapy (PBPT)

Pilates-Based Physical Therapy (PBPT) at InsideOut Body Therapies is an approach to healing grounded in the moving body. Utilizing the Pilates system and traditional physical therapy methods, our PTs assess and treat the whole person. We are particularly adept at identifying and correcting problematic postural and movement patterns that can cause you pain. We believe that you can feel better when you move better.

We do not file claims with insurance companies, but can provide everything you need in order to file with your own insurance policy. InsideOut Body Therapies provides clients with a claim form and itemized bill to make filing as simple as possible. If you are planning on filing your own insurance, 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 you for physical therapy services.

InsideOut has no relationship with Medicare, so law prevents us from providing Medicare patients with what would be considered “normally covered services”. If you are a Medicare beneficiary, including replacement and supplemental plans, and would still like to request treatment at our clinic, please call us. 

PBPT Benefits

PBPT encourages you to take an active role in your recovery. You’ll be asked to learn and engage in new ways of moving, of listening to your body, and 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 classes and/or individualized Pilates lessons into your everyday, post-treatment life. Our clients have successfully used PBPT to treat:

  • 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
A woman is helping someone in the process of getting their back.
A woman helping another man with his shirt

Back to Health Program at InsideOut Body Therapies: Bridging Physical Therapy to a Mindful Movement Practice

What is the Back to Health Program?

The Back to Health (BTH) Program includes sessions, workshops, classes and Community for clients transitioning from physical therapy to an independent movement program. Classes are small in size and structured to provide clients a safe and supported environment. Instructors provide an adaptable sequence of mindful exercises that emphasize core strengthening, joint health, and overall flexibility that can support individuals’ fitness and wellness goals. Techniques drawn from a variety of somatic practices are used to teach body awareness and to strengthen healthy movement patterns while empowering participants to move – literally and figuratively – back to health.

Who can participate in the Back to Health (BTH) sessions, classes and workshops?

All are welcome! Participants do not have to begin with Physical Therapy in order to enroll in these sessions, classes or workshops. BTH sessions and workshops can also serve as preparation for traditional Pilates equipment and floor classes at InsideOut. The sessions are grounded in Pilates principles and also integrate other movement modalities and techniques (e.g., yoga fundamentals, light weight training, fit ball exercises).

Participants will gain experience in the Pilates system, preparing them for other class offerings. The goal of the Back to Health Program is to empower clients with healthy movement options to do anytime, anywhere. Joseph Pilates said it best in Return to Life, “Physical fitness is the first prerequisite of happiness.”

 
Healthy Bones Program
The Healthy Bones (HB) program are a combination of workshops and classes focused on healthy, safe movement for clients with osteopenia and osteoporosis.  Our popular, weekly HB classes are fun, safe, and challenging for those wanting to build bones of steel! In addition to modified classical Pilates exercises, emphasis is placed on maximizing strength through weight bearing exercise, improving balance and optimizing posture. You’ll leave each session taller than you arrived! Classes are taught by physical therapists or our Pilates teachers with special training in bone health.

Pilates Equipment

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. 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. We use:

  • The Reformer
  • The Cadillac or Trapeze Table
  • The Low (Wunda) Chair
  • The Ladder Barrel
  • The Foot Corrector
  • The Ped-o-Pull
  • The Pole System

Schedule an Appointment

Please call the studio (919.361.0104) or email us to schedule an appointment.

A woman is standing on some bars in the gym

Frequently Asked Questions

A: 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.
  • Most therapeutic exercises are performed on our Pilates equipment.
  • Our rehabilitation exercise programs are individualized to your specific interests and needs.
  • We give you the time and attention you need in order to assure specific muscle groups are being used correctly and in proper sequence in order to prevent potentially harmful movement patterns.
  • You will become an active participant in your care through education about maintenance and injury prevention, allowing you to gain maximum benefit from physical therapy and giving you the ability to maintain strength and flexibility long after therapy ends.

A: Mischa Decker, PT, DPT, PMA®-CPT,  Lora Guerra PT, MPT, NCPT and  Susan Kokot, PT, DPT

A: Please visit our Pricing Page for complete pricing information. InsideOut Body Therapies is not a Medicare provider, so law prevents us from providing Medicare patients with what would be considered “normally covered services”. If you are a Medicare beneficiary and would still like to request treatment at our clinic, please call the studio for more information.

A: The initial physical therapy session will include a thorough evaluation including a full postural and movement analysis during which asymmetries, alignment issues, and movement patterns will be assessed. Joints and soft tissues will be evaluated along with the condition or injury presented. Your physical therapist will communicate their observations and develop an individualized plan of care to address the assessment as well as your goals and concerns.

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, and heat and ice therapies to decrease pain, increase tissue healing, improve muscle contraction, and decrease inflammation.

A: Most patients are comfortable in standard workout wear such as shorts, leggings, tanks tops, tees, etc. Your clothing should be breathable and allow full range of movement, therefore, street wear such as jeans or tailored clothing is not recommended. If you are sensitive to air-conditioning, you may opt to layer a sweatshirt over a tank or tee. Pilates is done in bare or sock feet.

A: We provide everything you will need for your Pilates-Based Physical Therapy sessions.

A: 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 four-six weeks, but this can vary based on need.

A: Upon completion of your PBPT 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.

A: Yes. 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, your PT will send her findings to your physician.

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 a referral is not required by the state, some insurance companies require a physician referral in order to reimburse you for physical therapy services.

A: We do not file claims with insurance companies, but can provide everything you need to do so yourself.  We provide you with the claim form and itemized bill to make filing as simple as possible. If you are planning on filing your own insurance, 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 you for physical therapy services. InsideOut has no relationship with Medicare, so law prevents us from providing Medicare patients with what would be considered “normally covered services”. If you are a Medicare beneficiary, including replacement and supplemental plans, and would still like to request treatment at our clinic, please call us. 

A: IOBT is a licensed studio of the Pilates Center of Boulder, CO and offers this comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training Program in Durham, NC. Visit our Pilates Teacher Training page for more training information.  For more information on how to integrate Pilates into your current Physical Therapy practice, contact Mischa Decker.  Mischa offers business consultation for an hourly fee.

InsideOut Body Therapies