Movement coaching is similar to personal training and physical therapy, however our focus is on re-educating movement patterns with a strong and stable core. Physical therapy tends to focus on specific body parts, and personal training focuses on strength and endurance without always creating a strong foundation. This path allows us to find the root cause of pain or dysfunction in the body and to modify the way we move throughout the day.

This is a head to toe assessment of your body responding to specific functional movement patterns. Ie, Squatting, reaching, hip hinging (see below)... Sometimes these things cause pain and there is generally a reason for it that is linked to the way our body has adapted to that movement.

We can chat for 20 minutes free to decide if this would be a good fit for you. If we decide to move forward, then a 75 minute assessment will be scheduled for $120. I will follow up with a summary of the evaluation findings with appropriate movement corrections as well as a plan for reaching your goals. Exercise videos and images are provided with proper instruction of each. Follow up meetings are scheduled as needed for $80 per hour and $45 per half hour.

I prefer to have the client send me a 30 second video of themselves walking about 20 feet back and forth in front of the camera several times. This allows me time to analyze the content without utilizing the client's paying time. I will review the findings with the client and likely tie some habits found in gait with other movement patterns revealed during their Functional Movement Assessment.

Optimal set up for your gait video can be taken from any smart phone either on a tripod on the ground or by a friend, family member, coworker holding the camera as close the floor yet angled up. The goal is to get as much of your full body in the lens at some point. Close to the ground allows me to see up close how your feet react to the ground. It is beneficial to begin the video standing facing away from the camera, both feet in view. Then begin walking back and forth, and try to turn around as naturally as possible. Use whatever assistive device is necessary at this time. The client should be walking about 20 feet away from the camera, and then back to the camera. Finish by standing directly in front of the camera with both feet in view. It is necessary for the area to be well lit, natural lighting is always best. If you are never barefoot, send 2 videos. One of you in shoes, one barefoot. Video should be no longer than 30 seconds and can be emailed to me katie@ptbodyfix.com

Yes! I love working with runners. All the specs are the same: well lit area, 30 seconds of footage. For runner we also need: TREADMILL ONLY! Running is too quick no matter the speed, it needs to be from a treadmill. I prefer to see the full body and front, back, lateral views. If you are able: with your usual running shoes (all views), and barefoot (all views). Get comfortable on the treadmill first so I know you have settled into your normal gait. This should only be completed if you aren't in significant pain. Slight discomfort that is tolerable for a few minutes is okay. ** See specs below for more info

For RUNNING gait assessments: TREADMILL ONLY! Running is too quick no matter the speed, it needs to be from a treadmill. I prefer to see the full body and front, back, lateral views. If you are able: with your usual running shoes (all views), and barefoot (all views). Get comfortable on the treadmill first so I know you have settled into your normal gait. This should only be completed if you aren't in significant pain. Slight discomfort that is tolerable for a few minutes is okay. If you are comfortable, please wear the least amount of clothing possible. For men, shirtless with shorts is optimal. For women, sports bra and leggings is optimal.

Movement coaching is similar to personal training and physical therapy, however our focus is on re-educating movement patterns with a strong and stable core. Physical therapy tends to focus on specific body parts, and personal training focuses on strength and endurance without always creating a strong foundation. This movement path allows us to find the root cause of pain or dysfunction in the body and to modify the way we move throughout the day. My background is in physical therapy with a certification as a Movement Specialist. I have a Personal Training certificate which allows me to perform movement based analysis virtually all over the world.

Movement coaching is similar to personal training and physical therapy, however our focus is on re-educating movement patterns with a strong and stable core. Physical therapy tends to focus on specific body parts, and personal training focuses on strength and endurance without always creating a strong foundation. This movement path allows us to find the root cause of pain or dysfunction in the body and to modify the way we move throughout the day. My background is in physical therapy with a certification as a Movement Specialist. I have a Personal Training certificate which allows me to perform movement based analysis virtually all over the world.

If you have a movement dysfunction and you are an athlete, then you will absolutely benefit from movement coaching. A movement specialist doesn't need to know every technical term related to each sport. But a good movement specialist does need to see how you move through your sport's specific movement patterns and assessing your body's ability to move through them efficiently and with optimal range of motion.

Absolutely! That might be my favorite thing to do. Making the transition is not always easy and most of us have been in poor footwear choices most of our lives. It will take time to introduce our feet back into the world without adding new injuries. Transitioning usually requires patience and effort and acknowledging what we have done to our feet prior to this transition. If you feel lost and overwhelmed in the process, I can guide you with appropriate strengthening, mobility, and stretching of your feet.

Really there is no difference. It is a choice of wording. I prefer "functional footwear" as some of these shoes don't really meet "barefoot" or "minimal" standards. Barefoot and Minimal = zero drop from heel to toe, wide toe box, flexible sole with the most minimal of cushioning so your feet can react to the ground optimally. Ie, Xero Shoes, Vivobarefoot, FeelGrounds. Functional Footwear = zero drop, wide toe box, flexible sole but still have cushioning to decrease ground force reaction. These are good as transition shoes or for higher impact sports like running.

That is a question for your own foot to answer. Every foot is different, every foot has a different shape and a different history. Your foot is different from mine and the next 50 people you talk to. Our feet could have the same size and shape, but my history may be different. You may have a higher arch than me and for different reasons. There is no "best" shoe out there. All the brands I've talked about and used, are awesome. Some fit my foot better than others, but some of those work better with other clients than for me. Check my shoe list under "Feet".

This is an easy one because there are only 2 options, unless you already accustomed to running in a minimal shoe - then I would say read the previous question about the best minimal shoe. Otherwise, if you are used to running in a standard running shoe: Brooks, Saucony, Asics, Nike, etc., then your next shoe should be either Altra or Topo Athletic. Both check all the boxes as far as functional footwear go. Topo still offers a slight heel to toe drop, so if you have suffered from chronic achilles issues in the past, I would recommend transitioning to Topo.

Trochanteric Bursitis is treated similiarly to Iliotibial Band Syndrome. Check out that page!

If you continue to have pain, contact your doctor or get a perscription for your local Physical Therapist. Your doctor might recommend an X-Ray or MRI, or an injection to decrease pain and inflammation.

Email me! I'd be happy to talk about your progress and see if you're ready for more challenging exercises.

Depending on your diagnosis, the exercises should be challenging when done properly. Make sure you pay attention to the video cues on proper body mechanics and postural alignment. Small tweaks make all the difference. Physical Therapy exercises are created to target specific muscles and get them firing without assistance or compensation. The human body is THE BEST at compensation, and it will do its best to trick you. If you feel you are doing them properly, email me, and I can send you higher level exercises.

Abdominal bracing is the hardest exercise because it requires the most brain power. 90% of people do this exercise wrong because it feels unnatural, it's difficult to explain, and it's super awkward the first time. Lie on your back with your knees bent, feet flat. Now cough, or laugh. Did you feel that? Those were your lower abdominals activating as your flattened your spine against the floor (or bed). That's the goal with abdominal bracing. If having a giggle by yourself is what it takes, then by all means laugh it up until you master that abdominal brace. Another way to achieve the proper posture, is lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat. Inhale, and now exhale very slowly until every last bit of air is out. You will find yourself physically pushing the air out of your body. You are now "abdominal bracing": your spine is flat, your pelvis is rotated upwards and you are activating your lower abdominals. Use this posture as frequently throughout the day as possible. It takes the stress off your spine and puts it on your abs--where it should be!

You are getting way too into your abdominal bracing! Not really, but you are kinda cheating. The goal of this exercise is to retrain the abdominals, get them firing, and retrain the spine into a more neutral alignment. If you are tensing up in your shoulders then you're probably not focusing entirely on your lower abdominals. Also, you are probably holding your breath which we don't want either. Don't pass out on us! Relax your neck, relax your shoulders. Both should be resting completely relaxed on a pillow or floor. The only thing tense in your body are your lower abdominals. That is why I say this exercise requires the most brain power. The second you stop thinking about it, is the second your body will compensate and do what it's used to doing!

Hell no! Did you read my disclaimer? I work full time in a clinic with real life patients all day long. If they ever asked me post-op Rotator Cuff Repair if they can just do this at home, I would laugh at them. But I won't laugh at you. Instead I will say this: it depends on the surgery. Most surgeons have a specific protocol they want you and the PT to adhere to, and most people don't know what those protocols mean. Your local PT will decipher this information, guide you, and get their hands on you to keep your post op joints moving. Some surgeries appear minor, (ie, meniscus debridement) and your surgeon wont require PT post-op. In that case, continue to adhere to his protocol. Try the Meniscus Injury exercises when you feel ready, but remember that those exercises are the very beginning. A true meniscus debridement, depending on the severity and how long ago the injury occured, requires up to 6 weeks of PT 2x weekly. If your exercises are too easy, email me! I'm really good at making them harder!

A sprain is to the ligament, a strain is to the muscle or tendon. A ligament is connective tissue anchoring bone to bone. Ie, the ligaments connecting all the bones in your ankle which then lead to ankle sprains. A tendon attaches muscle to bone.