Marcia Castro Montoya
Element Pilates, Costa Rica
Abstract Title: Impact of educational and personalized training programs in preventing early surgeries in adults with persistent musculoskeletal pain
Biography:
MSc. Marcia Castro Montoya is a Physiotherapist and Founder/Director of Element Pilates in Costa Rica, with 15 years of clinical experience in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. She holds a Master�s degree in Physical Activity, Sports Training, and Management. Her advanced training includes specialization in Orthopedic Manual Therapy, FPM mentorship with Dr. Craig Liebenson, the McKenzie Method (A, B, C, D, E), Cognitive Functional Therapy (Tier 1), and international certifications in Pilates, Gyrotonic, and Gyrokinesis. Her clinical and research focus centers on developing innovative, biopsychosocial rehabilitation models integrating pain education, movement-based strategies and lifestyle modification tools. Key words: Musculoskeletal rehabilitation, pain neuroscience, personalized, biopsychosocial.
Research Interests:
Persistent musculoskeletal disorders represent one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and frequently lead to early surgical recommendations despite limited evidence demonstrating superior outcomes over conservative care. The World Health Organization estimates that 1.71 billion people live with musculoskeletal conditions globally, underscoring the urgent need for innovative, person-centered, non-invasive models of care. This mixed-methods research study (2025) evaluated the impact of an integrated educational and personalized training program (including functional training, Pilates, Gyrotonic methods and more) in preventing early surgeries among adults with persistent musculoskeletal pain. The intervention combined pain neuroscience education, behavioral modification strategies, and progressive load-based individualized exercise programming tailored to each participant�s biopsychosocial context. Quantitative outcomes were assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), SF-12 Health Survey, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Qualitative analysis explored patient perceptions, belief restructuring, and informed healthcare decision-making. Results demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements across all domains. Severe baseline pain (VAS 8�10 in 80% of participants) decreased to mild or absent pain (VAS 0�2) in 100% post-intervention. Functional disability improved significantly, with 70% achieving 0% disability on the ODI. Quality of life and emotional well-being improved markedly, with depressive symptoms resolving in all participants. Notably, 100% reported avoiding surgical procedures following program completion. These findings highlight the potential of education-driven, movement-based physiotherapy frameworks as high-value alternatives, supporting the integration of innovative biopsychosocial rehabilitation models into clinical practice.
