Michelle Laging

As the thought leader and architect for the Physical Therapy mobility program at the ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders at Denver Health, Michelle utilized her clinical skills to devise a program to best serve this delicate population. She developed and wrote a Physical Therapy specific treatment protocol, initiated and revised movement protocols in coordination with an interdisciplinary team (typically consisting of medical doctors, therapists, dietitians, etc.), participated in research, provided outreach to local universities, shared the unit with job shadows and students, and continues to explore appropriate interventions to provide the most robust evidence-based care as possible. She blends her background as a yoga and fitness instructor with her physical therapy skills for rehabilitation and injury prevention to encourage clients to participate in movement and “healthy” reconnection with the body. Sensing the need to cultivate access to meaningful movement in the outpatient world, Michelle called upon her 11-years of experience to create her private practice, Strength Within Physical Therapy & Wellness, in February of 2019. Currently, she is evolving her practice to thread together several of the themes that are evident in individuals with eating disorders and women pre- and postpartum with a focus on pelvic health and the female athlete. As a weight-inclusive and HAES® informed practitioner, Michelle has been published in The Journal of Acute Care Physical Therapy and served as a contributing text editor for Pathology: Implications for The Physical Therapist. She is a member of iaedp and a member of the Global Pelvic Health Alliance (GPHAM). In her free time, she enjoys hiking the beautiful mountains of Colorado, participating in CrossFit, running, and BUTI yoga, and living life with her wonderful husband and 2 young kids.