Morgan Christy PT, DPT, OCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
Certified Pilates Instructor
My goal with this course is to promote Pilates within the physical therapy community.
What first drew you to physical therapy, and how did Pilates become a natural extension of your work?
I was a competitive swimmer and dancer in my youth and always loved movement. When I was in high school I spent a Saturday at a New York Sports Club to observe a massage therapist, personal trainer, and physical therapist. I was immediately drawn to the fitness environment filled with likeminded individuals. From my observation I gathered the Physical Therapist had the most freedom in regards to how they spent a session with a client. The PT was able to provide massage therapy techniques and follow up with exercise that was synergistic to the manual therapy provided.
As I continued my exploration of movement and fitness I discovered Pilates. I quickly recognized the similarities between swimming, dancing and Pilates. To further my understanding of Pilates I went through a Pilates Instructor Training course. I learned the principles of Pilates directly align with those of physical therapy; breathing, precision, concentration, control. flow, and centering.
What unique benefits does Pilates offer to your physical therapy clients that traditional methods might not?
The connection between movement and your breath is a great benefit Pilates offers to my physical therapy clients. In some strength training there is emphasis on breathing to assist the client throughout the movement but nothing compares to Pilates. Every movement is timed with your breath and this timing can change the focus of these movements. Let’s take a simple bicep curl, using the exhale during elbow flexion focuses on the concentric muscle activation, while using the exhale during elbow extension focuses on the eccentric muscle activation of the biceps. By changing the timing of your clients breath, it allows the clinician to change the focus of a specific movement.
You recently purchased a Pilates table designed specifically for physical therapy. How does this equipment enhance your ability to treat patients?
The clinical-studio Pilates reformer I purchased from Balanced Body is raised which allows me to provide hands on cues to my clients without sacrificing my own body mechanics. The height also provides my clients with a direct line of sight when I demonstrate an exercise or movement. The Revo Springbar allows me to adjust the location of the carriage in relation to the footbar for clients as needed. This is vital with clients who have range of motion restrictions or limitations. Setting up the equipment appropriately for each client sets them up for success in the movement or exercise.
Can you share a success story of a client who benefited from your combined approach of physical therapy and Pilates?
I have a client with Ankylosing Spondylitis, which causes inflammation, stiffness, and pain to the spine and other joints. This woman was suffering from constant pain and stiffness to her neck and low back which progressed to numbness and tingling in her right hand. My physical therapy background provided me the knowledge to develop a Pilates session to improve symptoms and provide safe exercise. I tailored our Pilates sessions to focus on core strengthening without activation of compensatory musculature. After 6 weeks of Pilates twice a week she no longer had numbness and tingling in her right arm. I have continued to work with this woman so she can maintain a healthy lifestyle despite the progressive arthritic changes occurring in her spine.
In what ways do you think Pilates helps with injury prevention or rehabilitation compared to other modalities?
Pilates is unique in that it focuses on eccentric muscle strengthening which is vital to injury prevention. Every Pilates exercise encourages full range of motion and muscle length to get the most out of each movement. As you grow your Pilates practice you will see the changes in your range of motion and muscle length which overall reduces risk of injury! Pilates has several foundational principles including precision, balance and control. By applying these principles to exercise you maximize the benefits of each movement while reducing risk of injury. Pilates exercises mimic the movements performed in our daily lives which helps to provide strength for activities of daily living. “Developing minor muscles naturally helps to strengthen major muscles. As small bricks are employed to build large buildings, so will the development of small muscles help develop large muscles.” Joseph Pilates, Return to Life Through Contrology
Marina del Rey is known for its active, health-conscious community. How has this influenced your practice?
Working in such an active and health-conscious community is simply a joy. I am grateful to work and live in a community of like minded individuals. This has influenced my practice in that I not only work with clients with active injuries but those who want to maintain an overall healthy lifestyle. My clients often transition from traditional rehab to performance training so we can continue working together based on their needs and goals.
As a physical therapist, how do you tailor Pilates exercises to meet the specific needs of clients recovering from injuries?
It’s all about selecting the MOST appropriate exercise for each client and how to cue them to get through the movement. Everyone can benefit from core exercise, but if you have weak deep neck flexors lifting your head and chest to perform core strengthening places excessive stress on the neck or cervical spine. As a physical therapist I can assess for these weaknesses and adjust pilates exercises to set my clients up for success. Another group that benefits from my background is pre and post-natal women. A common complication of pregnancy is rectus abdominis diastasis or abdominal separation. To reduce risk of this complication you must ensure the client is engaging their transverse abdominus or deep abdominals when performing exercise. Simple cues of drawing the bellybutton to spine can help the client perform the exercise safely.
What challenges did you face transitioning from traditional physical therapy to integrating Pilates into your practice, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge I faced was educating patients on the similarities between physical therapy and Pilates. The patients I had been seeing for traditional physical therapy had no Pilates background and vice versa. I needed to educate the clients on the foundational principles of Pilates and how they align with the principles of physical therapy. Once the patients understood the basic overlap of these principles, I was able to transition between traditional physical therapy and Pilates techniques during their treatment sessions.
What advice would you give to other physical therapists considering adding Pilates to their treatment repertoire?
I would advise any physical therapy interested in Pilates to start taking classes and find a high-quality instructor training course. Similarly to Physical Therapy school working with different body types, shapes and sizes provides a deep understanding of basic Pilates exercises and movements. Going through an instructor training course gives the educational background and hands on experience needed to appropriately apply Pilates to your treatment repertoire.
Where do you see the future of Pilates and physical therapy heading? Are there trends or developments you’re excited about?
I am beyond excited to see professional athletes getting into Pilates! I hope the trend of NFL and MLB athletes doing Pilates continues to grow. There is a stigma that Pilates is only for women or dancers; this is just not the case. Pilates was created by a man for all individuals. I am developing a continuing education course specifically for licensed Physical Therapists that will provide education on foundational Pilates movements and how these can be applied to your current patients. My goal with this course is to promote Pilates within the physical therapy community.
