When my husband Logan had a massive hemorrhagic stroke in September 2024, everything changed overnight. Movement, coordination, strength (even the ability to simply relax his body), became things that took so much effort & had to rebuild from the ground up. After a neurological injury, it’s not just about getting stronger, it’s about relearning how to connect to your body again.
As a physical therapist, I’ve focused my entire career on treating orthopedic and sports-related injuries. But after my husband’s stroke, my skillset – and my interests – expanded in ways I never expected. I’ve had to learn, adapt, and dive deeper into neurological rehabilitation, which is what led me to explore new ways to support his recovery.
As Logan continued progressing, I knew I wanted to invest in tools that would support not just strength, but coordination, control, and long-term function. About one year into his recovery, this led me to purchase a Pilates reformer and it quickly became one of the most impactful tools in his journey.
Initially, it was for Logan, but it didn’t take long to realize how powerful it could be not only for his recovery, but for many of the patients we treat in our clinic as well. The reformer is not just for strength, but it also does an amazing job at improving & restoring the mind-body connection that is often disrupted after stroke.
Why Mind-Body Connection Matters After Stroke
A stroke affects more than muscles, it disrupts the communication between the brain and body.
This can show up as:
• Decreased coordination
• Impaired proprioception (body awareness)
• Difficulty sequencing movements
• Increased tone or stiffness
• A disconnect between intention and execution
Rebuilding that connection is the foundation of recovery.
And this is where Pilates stands out.
Why Pilates — and the Reformer— Work So Well
Pilates emphasizes control, precision, breath, and intentional movement – all critical components of neurological recovery.
Using the reformer specifically allows for:
• Adjustable resistance to meet the body where it’s at
• Slower, more controlled movement patterns
• External feedback through springs and the carriage
• Supported positions that reduce fear and improve confidence
For Logan, this created an environment where he could safely explore movement while retraining his brain and body to work together again.
Recovery doesn’t happen in a straight line, and movement shouldn’t either.
A Multi-Planar, Full-Body Approach
We use the reformer to challenge the body in all planes of motion:
• Sagittal plane (forward and backward)
• Frontal plane (side-to-side)
• Transverse plane (rotation)
We also target both the anterior and posterior chains to create a balanced system.
This combination helps improve not just strength, but coordination, control, and overall body awareness.
Key Exercises That Support Mind-Body Connection
- Prone Thoracic Extension with Gripping
This exercise focuses on lifting through the thoracic spine while maintaining grip on the bar.
It improves:
• Postural awareness
• Posterior chain strength
• Grip activation
The combination of spinal movement and upper extremity engagement helps reinforce coordination and connection throughout the body.
- Supine Tabletop with Lat Pulldown
This is a powerful way to integrate the core with upper and lower body movement.
Holding a tabletop position while performing a lat pulldown challenges:
• Deep core activation
• Trunk stability
• Full-body tension and control
This type of coordinated effort is essential for rebuilding efficient movement patterns after stroke.
- Footbar Calf Stretch + Calf Raises
Foot drop, stiffness, and calf tightness are very common after stroke.
The reformer allows for:
• Assisted ankle mobility into greater range
• Controlled resistance to improve strength
• Enhanced sensory input when performed barefoot
Progressing into calf raises supports walking mechanics, push-off strength, and functional mobility.
- Side Sitting Oblique Twist with Hip Flexion
This movement introduces rotation while integrating both the upper and lower body.
It challenges:
• Trunk control
• Coordination across multiple segments
• Hip flexor activation
This is especially important for rebuilding movement patterns that require timing and sequencing.
- Side Sitting Press to Lateral Reach
This exercise emphasizes lateral trunk length and control.
It helps improve:
• Frontal plane stability
• Breathing mechanics
• Postural alignment
After long periods of limited movement, this type of exercise can feel incredibly freeing while restoring fluidity.
How We Approach Reps and Progression
With neurological recovery, quality matters more than quantity.
We focus on:
• Slowing movements down
• Stopping when movement quality declines
• Reinforcing clean, controlled patterns
Some days we complete one round. Other days, three. Recovery is not linear and respecting that variability is essential for long-term progress.
More Than Physical Progress
The most meaningful changes I’ve seen in Logan go beyond strength.
After these sessions, he demonstrates:
• Improved proprioception
• Better coordination
• Increased confidence in his movements
And perhaps most importantly, he feels more connected to his body.
Final Thoughts
Pilates has given us a way to bridge the gap between rehabilitation and real-life movement. It creates space to move with intention, rebuild coordination, and restore trust in the body. For individuals recovering from stroke, improving the mind-body connection is everything.
Because true recovery isn’t just about movement, it’s about feeling, controlling, and owning your movement again.
Stacie Barber
Dr. Stacie Barber, PT, DPT, CSCS, FRCms, FRS, USAW-L1SP, is a physical therapist, strength coach, mobility specialist, and founder of The Physio Fix, a performance-based rehab clinic in Phoenix, AZ. She is a movement-based clinician specializing in gymnastics & barbell medicine, as well as shoulder injuries and Achilles rehabilitation.
After undergoing 11 orthopedic surgeries, including three shoulder surgeries and two Achilles ruptures, Stacie brings a unique dual perspective as both clinician and patient. Her approach blends clinical expertise with lived experience to deliver highly individualized, strength-based rehab that bridges the gap between rehabilitation and performance.
She has also developed a strength-based approach to stroke rehabilitation after leading her husband’s recovery following his stroke, further expanding her work into neurological rehab and reinforcing her belief in redefining what’s possible in recovery.
Through her social media platform, Stacie educates, challenges outdated rehab narratives, and empowers both patients and clinicians to raise the standard of care. She is passionate about helping people take ownership of their health and guiding them to realize they are stronger and more resilient than they ever imagined.
Outside of the clinic, you can find her lifting, chasing her 2 kids, wrangling her five dogs, or pushing her own limits—most recently competing on American Ninja Warrior—because she practices exactly what she preaches.
