Is Egoscue therapy effective only for those in pain?
No. Egoscue clients include but are not limited to:
Professional and amateur athletes wanting to get in the best shape possible.
People wanting to avoid surgeries to spine, hips, knees, etc.
People rehabbing from various surgeries.
People of all ages who come to us in pain and want to get their lives back.
People of all ages seeking pain relief from issues such as scoliosis.
People of all ages seeking to improve their posture for health or aesthetic reasons.
Whatever your situation, the odds are excellent that Egoscue has helped someone just like you.
I am 'X' years old. Is it too late for me?
No! It is never too late to start Egoscue therapy, or too early, for that matter. We’ve worked with clients in their 90s, and with children under the age of 3. The body is a remarkable machine with a tremendous capacity to adapt and heal, regardless of age. We’ve seen many older clients make tremendous progress as they feed their bodies the motion they’ve been missing. It is never too late to start making things better.
My body is pretty broken down. Can Egoscue still help me?
The most important factor here is your attitude. We have a question for you: do you believe your body can improve, that it can get stronger and heal? If your answer is "yes", then congratulations, you're off to a great start! Or do you believe you are broken, that your body is fundamentally damaged goods and that you somehow require "fixing"? If so, then together we need to help you find a more resourceful and accurate way of looking at your body, because we have yet to meet the client who is "damaged goods."
At Egoscue, we do not believe you are broken and require fixing. Rather, we want to partner with you to help you rediscover your body’s magnificent blueprint, restore your postural balance and integrity and then watch and marvel as your body begins the process of changing from within. Your body wants to return to its birthright, its design. That is why it gave you the pain signal in the first place, to let you know something was compromised and action was required to restore balance. Believe this process can happen and you will not only create the mindset that will lead to taking the consistent action required to heal, but you will also create the biochemical state within your body to facilitate its proper response. We all know this is true, that attitude and belief impact your health at a physical level. So let’s start making attitude work for you, not against you.
How long before I feel results?
This varies from client to client, but most people will feel positive changes at their first visit. This may mean a reduction in pain, or simply your body just working better. At their first visit clients commonly report "I feel like it’s easier to move, I’m lighter on my feet, everything is moving more smoothly."
Remember, Egoscue's goal is not to try to find a few magic exercises that help you obtain short-term symptomatic relief. Our goal is to help you address the source of your pain and eliminate those dysfunctions that have led to your symptoms or limitations. Remember that these issues developed over time and they will take time to correct. The great news is that it takes a fraction of the time to correct these issues as it did to develop them.
A word about the process - Don’t be surprised if initially you feel much better for a few hours and then experience a return of your symptoms. That can be a normal part of the process. You will feel better because your body will be in a better postural position. As you move through your day and experience fatigue, your body may begin reverting to the posture it has been used to being in for years and you may feel a return of your symptom as it does so. That is why we encourage you to do your exercises every day. As you become posturally stronger, the window of time where your body stays in its improved position will grow longer and longer until eventually this becomes your normal posture and your pain is eliminated permanently.
Will my Egoscue e-cises (exercises) make me sore?
It depends. Your path to success with Egoscue may include ups and downs. And occasionally the e-cises (exercises) may cause some delayed muscle soreness as you begin to integrate new muscle patterning. Any soreness, however, should be that "good kind of soreness", like after a workout, and should quickly subside. Your e-cises should never cause your symptoms to increase. If that happens, contact your therapist for any appropriate menu adjustments.
Do I really have to do the e-cises every day?
Yes. Your central nervous system has developed specific muscle patterning to compensate for your dysfunctions. The motion that brought your body where you don’t want it is being fed everyday. To achieve balance and to permanently change your body, it needs to be trained and reminded on a daily basis of the position you want it to be in and then stimulate those new muscle patterns on a daily basis.
Do a menu:
3-4 days/week, and you will slow the rate at which you get worse.
5 days/week, and you will maintain where you are.
6 days/week, and you will get some slow progress.
7+ days/week, and you can achieve your goals.
How many visits will I need and how often will I have them?
This also varies by the client, but in general, most new clients should plan on 8 visits in a 2 to 4 month span. When you book your first appointment, we strongly recommend you book your second appointment for one week later if at all possible. Your therapist will then work with you to create a plan that fits your schedule and circumstances.
How long do appointments last?
Your first appointment will take approximately 1 to 1½ hours. Subsequent sessions will take approximately an hour.
How long will my exercises take to perform each day?
This will absolutely vary by client. Your therapist will discuss this with you directly to ensure that we create a custom plan that fits your lifestyle.
Is Egoscue different than just taking yoga or Pilates classes?
Yes. We are big fans of both yoga and Pilates but Egoscue varies in several important ways.
In a class environment, each attendee is given the same exercises or movements to perform, and they are not tailored to create specific postural responses but instead are designed for either general health or conditioning. This is great, except a person in pain or experiencing functional limitation needs a more targeted approach that will address their specific issues.
With Egoscue, your unique posture and functional issues and abilities will dictate your therapy. This means that you will receive a program tailored specifically for you, to help address the fundamental issues preventing you from living a life free from pain and limitation. Your Egoscue therapist will work with you to understand both the issues you have and the goals you wish to achieve. They will thoroughly assess your posture and body mechanics and help you understand why your body is working the way it currently is. Your therapist will then work with you to craft a personalized plan of action to help you immediately begin improving the way your body feels and functions. In-clinic therapy is always one-on-one with your therapist, rather than a class or group setting.
Should I continue to see my massage therapist, chiropractor, etc.?
That is up to you. Egoscue is a great complement to these and other therapies. Most people find that Egoscue helps them get even better results from these other therapies.
Should I continue with my current activities?
It depends. Share this information with your therapist, who will work with you to put together an exercise plan for you that moves you toward your goals in a safe and efficient manner. It may be necessary to avoid certain activities initially until your body is better aligned. In general, the more you move the better but we want to ensure your exercise programs are working to help build your postural integrity, not diminish it. We believe it makes sense to "straighten before you strengthen."
What if once I get home, I don’t like my menu or I find I am unable to do it all?
Obviously, you cannot be successful with a menu you are not doing. There are many reasons why your menu could feel different once you get home. So, if your body responds differently at home than it did at the clinic, please call or email your therapist right away. With your input, your therapist will change what you are unable to do once you are at home.
I am going out of town and will not have time to do my menu. What should I do?
Call or email your therapist before you leave. Let your therapist know how long you will be gone and what equipment you will be taking with you. Your therapist will construct a menu that both your needs during your time away and meets your body's motion needs to keep you moving forward in your therapy. This menu will be emailed to you. If you do not have email, it will be mailed or faxed to you. Be sure to give your therapist as much notice as possible.
What if I would like to work with a different therapist?
Just ask. Your success with Egoscue is our primary goal. We want you to feel comfortable discussing anything with us. Nobody’s feelings will be hurt if you want to change therapists.
How do I schedule my next appointment?
Our office manager will set your next appointment at the end of your therapy session. Please bring your calendar or planner to your appointment. If you forget your calendar, you may email or call the office manager or your therapist to set up your next appointment when you get home.
What if I have to reschedule an appointment?
Based on your posture, your therapist has carefully planned the amount of time between your sessions. Frequent cancellations or rescheduling of your appointments will slow your progress. This is the second biggest reason why clients get suboptimal results with Egoscue. They try to make their appointments last or stretch them out. Please do not do this! It will only delay achieving your goals and getting the results you are seeking.
What if I have to cancel an appointment?
Based on your posture, your therapist has carefully planned the amount of time between your sessions. Frequent cancellations or rescheduling of your appointments will slow your progress. Cancel your appointment only if you have an emergency and please give us a 48-hour notice. We know that “life” can get in the way and giving a 48-hour notice is not always possible, especially with emergencies. Re-schedule your appointment as soon as possible. If the time between appointments will be significant, please touch base with your therapist. They may want to change your current menu or give you a supplemental menu if the time is significant.
How much does Egoscue therapy cost?
That depends on your situation. First, we encourage you to view your work with Egoscue as an investment in your health. With Egoscue you will not only improve the way your body works, you’ll gain the knowledge and tools to take care of yourself for a lifetime!
Some people have had great results from one of Pete Egoscue’s books, at a $17 investment. Many others have made great use of our online therapy program, at a $99 investment.
For those desiring to utilize our personalized in-clinic therapy program, we offer the following programs:
The 16-visit Friends and Family Package is $2,495
The 8-visit Individual Package is $1,495
Individual visits may be purchased for $250
Most new clients opt for the 8-visit package. If you intend to do therapy along with a friend or family member, we recommend that you share the Friends and Family Package. Your friend or family member does not have to go to the same clinic for you to share this package.
I live too far from your clinic to get there regularly. Can you still help me?
Yes! While we have many clients who travel to us from a distance, we understand that getting to your visits as needed can be more challenging when you’re not local. So, we offer therapy on-line, and by webcam video chat, using Skype.
Individual On-line therapy is available at $99. Packages are also available.
Skype Therapy is available at the same price with the same packages as our In-clinic Therapy program. All you need is a high-speed Internet connection, a web cam (typically may purchased for around $50 if you don't have one in your computer) and the free Skype software to allow us to see each other. This is a VERY effective way to receive therapy without traveling.
Ask us for more details or go to "Our Services" web page therapy options. We can help you get setup, even if you’re not comfortable with computers.
Does insurance cover Egoscue therapy?
No. Egoscue is considered “non-medical.” However, if your company offers Flex Spending or Health Savings Accounts, they have been used to pay for Egoscue therapy in the past. Please check with your plan administrator.
Is there a way I can learn more about Egoscue without having to commit a lot of money?
Absolutely! First, we highly recommend Pete Egoscue’s books. His book, "Pain Free" is a great place to start. Read the first three chapters and you’ll get a very good feel for how we look at the body.
Secondly, we offer a free "Introduction to Egoscue" the 1st Tuesday of each month, at 6:30pm in the Portland Clinic. At the workshop you'll learn more about how your posture affects the way your body feels and functions, you'll get your posture photos taken and reviewed with you by one of our therapists and you’ll get basic advice on how you can start improving your health now, whether by working on your own or with one of our therapists.
Do I have to buy a lot of expensive equipment?
No. Your therapy will be specific to you and may require the use of some equipment, but much of what we use in clinic can be easily duplicated with items or furniture you have at home. You and your therapist will discuss what is appropriate for you.
What happens when I am finished with my Egoscue therapy?
Timelines will differ from client to client because postures and issues differ from client to client, as do their goals. Our initial goal is to re-establish normal function and postural/muscular balance, which in turn removes pain. As you become pain free, you may wish to work with your therapist to set goals for strengthening and conditioning your body to ensure you don't just become pain free, you stay that way.
