“Tell me about yourself” is probably the toughest prompt to answer. I don’t have an easy or concise answer any more, such as “college student” or “new grad” or “softball player” like I did in the past. So, what’s my new tagline?

We’ll start with some backstory first, mostly in the physical therapy and exercise world because that’s my goal in writing this blog post: to introduce you all to who I am as a PT and active individual. I grew up playing softball with many years spent in select travel leagues playing year round and traveling to many different states. A shoulder injury in high school kept me from playing in college, which was pretty tough to accept. However, the physical therapist I had in high school was amazing and I actually worked for her after I graduated PT school. She helped get me back on the field stronger than I ever was before my shoulder injury, and taught me that I could combine my interests for anatomy and sports into a rewarding career. 10 years after I was her patient, I became her employee and she mentored me through my first years as a physical therapist. Talk about full circle!

My dog, Toby, in front of Jesse Hall on Mizzou’s campus

After high school, the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO was my home for seven years where I completed my Bachelor’s and Doctorate of Physical Therapy degrees. While in school, I discovered a love for orthopedics and vestibular/concussion specialties, which are the areas I continue to practice in today. I got outside every nice day I could going on hikes, cave spelunking, playing slow pitch softball, and taking my dog to the park. I continued to workout in the gym and learned how to strength train. My goal became to squat two plates, or 225 pounds, because I thought it was badass. I was completing a clinical rotation at the hospital on campus which was walking distance to the gym. I could easily lift 3-4 days a week and was on a program specifically to get stronger. I felt good, I looked good, and after several months, I squatted 225 pounds…and I’ve never done it since.

Don’t get me wrong, I still think being able to squat that much weight would be awesome, and I’m getting close to it again. But, my priorities are different now. Fast forward 2 years after graduation from PT school and I was heading in for surgery for hip impingement and a labral tear. Several months after school ended, I started to have pain. I attributed it to the shift in schedule from student to working full time and the different demands that put on my body. But, it wasn’t just regular aches after a long day on my feet. I had nerve pain down my leg, aching in my low back, and pain deep in my hip. I consulted my coworkers both on the side and as a paying patient. I tried massage, home workouts, Peloton, gym workouts, etc, but I was continuing to get worse over the course of a year. I finally went in to see an orthopedic hip specialist I trusted and based on all of the information I had at that time, it felt like surgery was the right thing to do. So I did it. The PT going in for surgery kinda feels like the psychiatrist that goes insane. How did I fail at what I preach every day?

Recovery Room Post-Op

Did somebody say pain meds?

Over the year following my surgery, I had some ups and downs. Sometimes I felt great, others I felt awful. I definitely didn’t feel “fixed” and I was extremely frustrated. The pain in my low back and deep in my hip was mostly gone, but the nerve pain down my leg was hardly better. It often coincided with my monthly cycle so each month was a bit of a countdown wondering if I was going to feel horrible. Luckily, I have a great PT and friend who helped me through this process.

After significant flare ups, I went on the hunt for more. And that’s where the shift in my priorities begins. I started working with a pelvic floor therapist. I learned how to breathe, CORRECTLY fire my core, and how to apply this to lifting, work, and daily life. I had to slow down Every. Single. Rep. and I am NOT a patient person. But holy cow, was it worth it!

This is information I did not have when I made the choice to have surgery. There are a hundred “what ifs” I could say regarding avoiding surgery but I try not to let myself go down that path because it only makes it worse. And, for every negative, there’s a HUGE positive.

Finally, 18 months after surgery, I have learned SO MUCH about my body, anatomy, strength, and function to help myself and better yet, to help my patients! I have become a better physical therapist because of this long health journey I have been on myself. I can treat my patients with more knowledge and get better outcomes because I can address the full picture

Today, the pain is much better, I’m continually getting stronger, and I’m making a lot of progress. I’ve found new value in strength training. I’m still deadlifting, squatting, and super setting but with more intention and purpose. To be clear, I still want to do badass stuff, and be very fit and strong. A competitive nature is in my blood. But, I view working out as a marathon to my life of staying strong and feeling good so I can ski, bike, and live more pain free days than not. I don’t have that panic like I used to when I miss a workout that the whole week goes to crap or I’ve lost progress.

So to answer the prompt, “tell me about yourself” in the realm of physical therapy here’s what I say:

Hi, my name is Carli Kavanagh. I’ve been a PT since 2019 after a long softball career with a shoulder injury and a post-college hip injury. I love treating the active adult, youth athlete, and am growing a passion for pelvic and women’s health after my own experiences. I pride myself in taking a FULL body approach to patients and teaching them the “why” behind each exercise and injury. I want to know what you do for your own fitness and won’t tell you to stop what you're doing for believing my way is better because that’s not true. For my own workouts, I personally love strength training, but am eager to sprinkle in some other modalities such as yoga, CrossFit, pilates, or running as I progress through my own rehab/fitness journey. And secretly, I don’t really love being in the gym that much…I’d rather be outside skiing, biking, hiking, catching some rays, or petting some cute dogs. But strength training is NECESSARY for me to do all the things I love. It’s the pillar of all my treatment plans and I’m eager to start you on a plan or supplement what you’re already doing.