I loved the gentle but strong approach to postpartum wellness that Erin takes. Babies are welcome, but mom is still focused on. I never felt pushed out of my comfort zone, but always felt challenged to push myself toward my goals.
Since I met Erin at Elite Physical Therapy back in 2017, she has helped me overcome two ACL reconstruction surgeries. I love her style of treatment; she is very patient, listens well and adapts to her patient’s needs. She also has a great sense of humor and is compassionate, which is always appreciated after surgery. I don’t particularly love working out, but I always looked forward to going to PT and seeing what exercise regime she had prescribed for me. Erin has a passion for helping others and I would be happy to recommend her to anyone!
I have been doing CrossFit for about 9 years now and coaching it for 5. I wanted to continue to perform at a “high level” even throughout pregnancy. I had seen all the CrossFitters on Instagram continuing to work out up until their due dates, and I assumed that I would do the same because I was experienced and was strong enough to do so. Around 18-22 weeks into my pregnancy, I began noticing that certain things I thought I should be able to do, didn’t really feel good anymore. I would go into a workout telling myself that I should be able to complete the workout RX and find that halfway through I just couldn’t. Either a particular movement didn’t feel right or my heart rate would get so much higher than normal that I would have to take a break. I would leave these workouts just hating myself and my body for failing me. I didn’t want to modify any light weight barbell movement, box jumps, running, pushups, burpees, double unders, or anything else that I deemed too simple to modify. When these movements would come up in a workout, I would try to do what I usually did in any workout: work harder and push through it.
One day, I experienced some cramping after a workout that really scared me. Thankfully, baby was fine but this left me feeling like a bad mother in addition to not meeting my expectations of myself. I finally realized that I would have to begin modifying things more than what I had been doing. I would go into the gym, see the workout, try to modify, and then feel that the modification was too easy. When this happened, I would get so frustrated, leaving the gym feeling like I had done nothing. Sometimes I would get so frustrated I would even just quit the workout entirely.
After a multiple workouts like this, I finally reached out to Erin, who I knew did CrossFit successfully throughout her pregnancies. Erin began adjusting my programming, providing multiple options for each movement, along with advice and guidance on how and when I should modify. Having a plan going into the gym for each workout took the headache out of trying to modify the workout for myself at the last minute. I was also confident that I was making good choices not only for me and my body, but for my baby! I trusted Erin’s programming because I’d seen first hand how well she had done during pregnancy and that she had given birth to a healthy baby following both pregnancies! Erin's recommendations were also helpful because she listened to feedback that I provided and would make suggestions specific to me. While working with Erin, I finally felt like I was prioritizing my baby’s health while still getting a good workout. Erin listened to my concerns and always gave great feedback. She was amazing to work with and highly recommend anyone who is pregnant to check out what she has to offer!
I can't say enough good things about the Postpartum Return to Exercise program and Erin's guidance on my journey through postpartum recovery. Doing pop-ups and jumping jacks during week 6 of the program was amazing! I wouldn't have believed I could progress this far so quickly. And now I have the confidence to take my exercising to the next level.
Upon retiring my primary goal was to stay active. Nevertheless, I gradually found myself reacting more slowly to my opponents shots in pickleball and tennis. Then I began to experience increasing pain in my hips when I ran after a shot. For years I thought this was part of "getting older" but it was getting to the point that I had to load up on Advil to do any activity. So I visited my primary care physician. Nine months of physical therapy (addressing the wrong area), steroid injections, sports medicine specialists, and MRI's failed to identify the problem let alone solve the issue. Then I happened upon Dr. Foster at Foster Fitness & Physical Therapy. After hearing of my symptoms, Erin evaluated the area of concern and prescribed a series of exercises isolating the area of weakness. I performed them regularly in my home for 10 minutes every other day. Within a couple of weeks I thought I noticed a difference but I was skeptical - thought it might be false hope. After a month it was clear. Hearing my opponent's comment to each other, "I didn't think he would get to that" and to me, "Geez Kenny, what's going on, you seem much quicker." confirmed it. I haven't taken an Advil since. Finding an excellent physical therapy professional is a lifestyle saver. Thanks Erin.
Erin's postpartum class met me where I was just 5 weeks after birth and laid the foundation to re-engage my muscles and return to movement and exercise. Her personalized and positive approach gave me confidence and strength both physically and mentally as a new mama. I am so grateful to have started my return to exercise with Erin's guidance!