Message Us
This approach is founded on medical expertise and years of practical application based on these 3 key areas.
1. Neuromuscular Re-education
Kelly’s professional background is grounded in NDT (Neuro-Developmental Treatment), an approach that was initially developed for brain injury patients who develop a functional muscle neglect due to the disconnection between the brain and specific muscles throughout the body. We use this approach to reconnect the feedback loop between the brain and the muscles by taking the neglected muscles through the function that they were originally designed to do. The Tummy Team uses a specific and very intentional progression to rehabilitate the deep, stabilizing postural muscles of the core and pelvic floor.
2. Functional Integration
The muscles of the core are primarily postural and respiratory in nature. These muscles are designed to be strong and active all day in every activity. The most effective way to retrain the body and the brain is to reinforce every exercise with functional activities that the client engages in on a consistent basis. We have found it has to be functional to be meaningful, and ultimately effective for the client. For these reasons, our approach purposefully designs every strengthening exercise, anti-compensation stretch, myofascial release and motor learning strategy to integrate into the functional use of each specific muscle group. Our approach prioritizes upright postures with balanced and active muscle alignments. We make it functional, we make it meaningful and we make it doable.
3. Applicable Education
Everything we do with the client – whether in our clinic or through our online programs – is ultimately for the client to be able to do independently. We focus on educating on how the body was designed and creating an understanding of why the body may be failing to function. We take education seriously, providing informative video instruction as well as comprehensive education materials. Our passion is to help clients rehabilitate the core while equipping them with the awareness and tools they will need to identify and improve ongoing alignment challenges. Our goal is to empower clients with strength and tools for life.
The Tummy Team Story
How We Apply Our Approach
Here’s what the rehabilitation process might look like for a client, depending on their reasons for seeing us
- Education on anatomy of the abdominals, motor learning and the importance of connection to the core
- Neuro-muscular re-education of the transverse abdominis
- Neutral active posture and alignment retraining
- Isolated upright core rehabilitation exercises
- Functional activation and integration of the core
- Body mechanics
- Coordination between the transverse abdominis and the pelvic floor
- Abdominal rehab splinting
- Sensory and emotional reconnection to the core
- Transition into Tummy-Safe Fitness and lifestyle
- Education on anatomy of the core and pelvic floor muscles, function of the pelvic floor and importance of connection
- Neuro-muscular re-education of the transverse abdominis
- Neutral active posture and alignment retraining
- Isolated upright core rehabilitation exercises
- Functional activation and integration of the core
- Body mechanics training
- Coordination between the transverse abdominis and the pelvic floor
- Isolated functional pelvic floor rehabilitation exercises
- Sensory and emotional reconnection to the core and pelvic floor
- Transition into Tummy-Safe Fitness and lifestyle
- Education on anatomy of the abdominals and pelvic floor
- Education on importance of core strength in pregnancy, labor, delivery and birth recovery
- Neuro-muscular re-education of the transverse abdominis
- Neutral active posture and alignment retraining
- Specific focus on optimal mother and fetal alignment
- Isolated upright core rehabilitation exercises
- Functional activation and integration of the core
- Coordination and dissociation between the transverse and the pelvic floor
- Intermittent prenatal abdominal splinting
- Practice pushing training and alternate pushing positions
- Setting up environment for newborn care
- Initial postpartum plan for core rehab
- Systematic approach to birth recovery and the physical demands of newborn care
- Postpartum abdominal splinting
- Training in optimal pain-free parenting postures
- Education on the anatomy of the abdominals
- Education the importance of core connection prior to surgery and proper body mechanics
- Neuro-muscular re-education of the transverse abdominis
- Neutral active posture and alignment retraining
- Isolated upright core rehabilitation exercises
- Functional activation and integration of the core
- Body mechanics training
- Specific education on surgical procedure and immediate post-surgical body mechanics and rehab exercises
- Post-surgical abdominal splinting
- Sensory and emotional reconnection to the core
- Scar care and initial scar mobilization
- Transition into Tummy-Safe Fitness and lifestyle
- Education on the anatomy of the core and the role of fitness in overall core strength
- Neuro-muscular re-education of the transverse abdominis
- Neutral active posture and alignment retraining
- Isolated upright core rehabilitation exercises
- Functional activation and integration of the core into daily life and fitness
- Basic Tummy-Safe Fitness guidelines
- Coordination between the transverse abdominis and the pelvic floor during fitness choices
- Advanced Tummy-Safe Fitness guidelines
- Alternatives to traditional core work
- Integration for active core and pelvic floor in sports, high-impact and high-intensity exercise