When life takes us down a new path, we all respond differently. Some buckle down and resist change, while others approach it with resentment and doubt. When I think of a healthy way to respond to change, I think of Frozen 2. In the movie, Anna faces more change than ever before, with her beloved sister having an identity crisis and her romantic relationship with Kristoff evolving. But early in the movie, she receives an essential piece of advice from Pabbie, the patriarch of the magical trolls who raised Kristoff. He says, “When one can see no future, all one can do is the next right thing.” Doing the next right thing will guide Anna’s actions throughout the movie, and that sentiment is an excellent example for us all to learn how to navigate change.
I thought about this method of responding to change as I heard the story of one of our women’s health physical therapists, Cara Reedy. Her career started on one path, but after becoming a mother, life took her down a new path, one more impactful than she could have imagined. I got to sit down with Cara and discuss how her experience as a mom ignited her passion for women’s health physical therapy - read on to learn from her life and career.
Cara Reedy, doctor of physical therapy
Growing up in Pittsburgh, PA, Cara did not initially want to be a physical therapist. Her father was a physical therapy assistant, so she grew up around physical therapists and understood a lot about rehabilitation from a young age. However, her initial career choice was optometry - she even completed all of the prerequisite courses for that track at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she received her bachelor’s degree. Then, she picked up a new hobby: CrossFit.
“I walked in and I was working out with 14-year-olds and 75-year-olds. That was fun for me, to be accepted in a community with so many different types of people that all just wanted to be better.”
Seeing how fitness could be adapted for anyone of all ages ignited a spark in Cara she didn’t know she had—she wanted to help people feel better and live more active lives. So, she pivoted to physical therapy and received early acceptance at Samford University. Why did she move from Pennsylvania to Alabama, you ask? Her long-distance boyfriend at the time, John Mark, was working on his master’s degree at the University of Alabama, and Cara decided she wanted to be closer to him. She graduated from physical therapy school in 2022, and yes, John Mark is now her husband.
Cara Reedy, passionate women’s health advocate
When she first graduated with her DPT, Cara wasn’t drawn to a particular specialty. Working at the front desk of a physical therapy clinic back in Pittsburgh, she was always curious about the pregnant and postpartum patients who came in, and in PT school, she enjoyed the women’s health lecture she had. However, when Cara became pregnant with her son Peter, her whole career path opened up.
“I was very active before I got pregnant. When I got pregnant, I had such a downslope of energy and I felt sick, and towards the end of my pregnancy, I didn’t know how to navigate that. I was the only person on both sides of my family to have a C-section, and I felt like I was left in the dark on a lot of things, and I wish I would have done things differently. Having my son really helped me get into my specialty.”
Today, Cara uses her personal and professional experience to help women navigate pregnancy and postpartum. With an ICE certification and Hermann & Wallace pelvic floor certification under her belt, she is passionate about assisting women to stay as active as they can, following their doctor’s advice. But, the certifications are not what Cara really takes pride in. Every easier delivery, every educated mother, every (relatively) smooth postpartum journey - that’s what makes her hard work all worth it.
“Your bodies are changing, you’re having this huge new change of life and the way you’re living your life, so being able to navigate that with people and give them my experience has helped my career. I have a kid, you have a kid, we were pregnant, let’s talk about it.”
Along with learning from her personal experience as a mom, being a physical therapist has taught Cara how to be adaptable. As a mom of a now two-year-old boy, every day tests her adaptability, but she also gets practice with her patients. Pregnancy brings many new symptoms, and tailoring treatment to whatever her patient is experiencing that day has been key.
“You’re never going to be able to predict what someone is experiencing, so having the certifications and being able to navigate this inflow of information and apply it to someone in that moment has been very positive on my career.”
Cara’s key takeaways
So, what can we learn from Cara’s life and career? First, adaptability is a valuable life skill for anyone, whether you are a mom, a physical therapist, or anyone in between. Second, whenever you make any kind of big plan, life has a way of surprising you. Taking optometry classes, Cara had no idea she would actually end up working with pregnant and postpartum women. It’s essential to keep your eyes open for opportunities, and when a really good one comes along, you might want to jump in headfirst.
Lastly, your story holds more power than you may realize. Cara’s own pregnancy pushed her down the women’s health path, and now she uses her story to advocate for other women who are in the same spot she was in and help them stay active.
“You’re not just locked in a back room. You should be out in the gym and doing exercises outside of the pelvic floor, because it really is a full-body therapy. Big, dynamic movements play as much of a role in pelvic floor therapy as Kegels or breathing techniques.”
Passion, staying true to yourself, and doing the next right thing are the keys to success for physical therapists, moms, and everyone in between. Your story is powerful, especially if, like Cara, you use it to help others. Our clinicians at EW Motion Therapy each have their own story of why they are passionate about their careers, which is why we continue to provide the best treatment possible for our clients’ needs. If you’re curious about how much your physical therapy might cost, click the button below to download our free pricing guide.
