Pathokinesiology

A new Certification with Dr. Brent Anderson

For professionals who work with movement and want to work confidently with disease, trauma, and complex presentations.

Understand movement at its source.
Reverse-engineer your Pilates education.
Step into the next evolution of your teaching.

This groundbreaking certification begins where most movement education ends: at the root. If you’re ready to understand the structures, systems, and pathologies that shape human movement, you are invited to join us to learn Pathokinesiology with Dr. Brent Anderson.

Dr. Brent Anderson is one of my favorite educators and experts, not only in Pilates. His mind is open to all different kinds of movement. His knowledge is great and his kindness makes me grateful.

Brent's knowledge of anatomy and human movement combined with his ability to teach these concepts to others is unparalleled. He takes time to breakdown complex concepts into manageable and usable components. He invites us to be curious, ask questions and share our own Pilates experiences.

From the time I met Brent Anderson, learning Pilates for the first time at 48 years old until today 25 years later- I am always learning and deepening my knowledge of human movement and how wonderful and amazing it is. I so hope that Brent continues to share his gift for as long as I can continue learning and teaching others.

I find Brent’s sessions invaluable - THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Each session has brilliant visuals and a logical flow, that are easy for my brain to connect and understand. It’s always just the right amount of information, which is relevant to a subject being discussed. It’s a great gift, to be able to explain such complex things in a way they can be understood by anyone.

Who This is For:

You may resonate with this program if you:

Work with clients whose movement is affected by pain, injury, or disease
Feel limited by protocols that don’t fit real humans
Want to incorporate critical reasoning, not just cue exercises
Believe movement is medicine, but want the science to back it up
Are ready to become the specialist others refer to

Who This is NOT For:

This program may not be for you if:

Prefer generalized protocols over individualized critical reasoning
Are looking for exercise libraries or cueing scripts without deeper reasoning
Are not ready to commit to a year-long, progressive learning experience
Are seeking quick fixes rather than long-term skill development
Do not wish to take on the responsibility that comes with being a referral-level specialist

If you regularly work with clients affected by injury, illness, or trauma, this training changes everything.

What is Pathokinesiology?

"Any pathology that impairs movement is our specialty."

Pathokinesiology is the study of how pathology affects movement and how movement affects pathology.

It is where:

Physiology explains capacity
Pathology explains limitation
Kinesiology guides intervention

This program teaches you to integrate all three so that movement becomes precise, purposeful, and transformative.

Why this course Matters

Your clients bring you their stories. Pathokinesiology gives you the language to understand them with clarity, compassion, and science.

Dr. Brent AndersonProfessor, Physical Therapist, Master Pilates Teacher, Founder of Polestar Pilates

Pathokinesiology gives substance to the passion and empathy you already bring to your teaching.
It deepens not just how you see movement, but how you see the mover.

You will walk away with the ability to meet your clients with both heart and evidence-based clarity, elevating the quality of your sessions and the impact of your work.

Year-Long Curriculum

This year-long program provides an in-depth look into the systems of the human body and how movement and pathology influence one another, giving you the knowledge to better understand health, injury, and human performance across physical, emotional, and psychosocial domains.

Course 1: Introduction to Pathokinesiology (3 months)

This course introduces the framework of Pathokinesiology; how movement impacts pathology and how pathology impacts movement. By understanding human movement systems and the physiology of each system, the movement practitioner enhances their ability to assess movement and facilitate effective intervention.

Introductory Section: Pathokinesiology Foundations

Module I: Introduction to Pathokinesiology
Module II: Physiology
Module III: Pathology
Module IV: How Pathology Impacts Movement
Module V: How Movement Impacts Pathology

Section I: Organization of the Human Body

The human body is composed of systems that work together in harmony to maintain homeostasis, allowing the body to function automatically and subconsciously.

Module I: Introduction to Physiological Homeostasis
Module II: Systems of the Human Body
Module III: Living Chemistry of the Human Body
Module IV: Tissues of the Human Body

Section II: Physiology of Movement

The integumentary, skeletal, and muscular systems interact to provide support, mobility, and structure to the human body.

Module I: The Integumentary System
Module II: The Skeletal System
Module III: Joints
Module IV: The Muscular System

Section III: Physiology of Body Regulation and Integration

The nervous and endocrine systems form an integrated electrical and chemical communication network responsible for control, sensation, interpretation, and behavioral response.

Module I: Fundamentals of the Nervous System
Module II: Central Nervous System
Module III: Peripheral Nervous System
Module IV: Autonomic Nervous System
Module V: The Endocrine System

Section IV: Physiology of Body Maintenance and Continuity

This section examines systems responsible for maintaining homeostasis, including oxygen delivery, nutrition, waste removal, fluid balance, and energy production.

Module I: Cardiovascular System
Module II: Lymphatic System
Module III: Immune System
Module IV: Respiratory System
Module V: Digestive System
Module VI: Metabolic and Fluid Regulation
Module VII: Reproductive System and Heredity

Course 2: Introduction to Human Pathology (3 months)

This course explores the concept of health and pathology through historical, modern, and functional lenses, emphasizing how pathology influences participation, behavior, and movement.

Section I: Definition of Health

Before understanding illness, disease, or trauma, it is essential to define health. Significant advancements over the past 50 years have reshaped how health, disability, and pathology are understood.

Module I: Foundations of Pathology & Human Health
Module II: Disease, Prevention, & the Science of the Individual
Module III: Physical Health & Epigenetics
Module IV: Mental Health
Module V: Spiritual and Emotional Health

Section II: Definition of Pathology

Pathology may arise from trauma, disease, environmental exposure, physiological imbalance, genetics, or psychological impairment. This section applies the International Classification of Function (ICF) model to understand pathology’s effect on human participation.

Module I: ICF Model algorithm to define the effect of pathology on human behavior
Module II: Trauma-Related Pathologies
Module III: Disease-Related Pathologies
Module IV: Environmental-Related Pathologies
Module V: Psychological Pathologies

Section III: Pathologies According to Systems

Understanding system-specific pathology and its influence on movement will improve assessment, diagnosis, and intervention planning.

Module I: Introduction to Pathologies of the Musculoskeletal System
Module II: Introduction to Pathologies of the Neurological System
Module III: Introduction to pathologies of the Cardiovascular System 
Module IV: Introduction to Pathologies of the Respiratory System & Lymphatic
Module V: Introduction to pathologies related to the Immune
Module IV:
Introduction to Pathologies of the Digestive & Genitourinary systems

Section IV: Critical Reasoning Algorithm

Module I: Activity Identification
Module II: Activity Physical Demands
Module III: Polestar Assessment Tool
Module IV: Critical Reasoning: The Principles of Movement Application
Module V: Prescription

Course 3: Pathokinesiology, Level I (3 months)

This course deepens the study of pathology in systems directly related to human movement, focusing on indications, strategies, and how comorbidities affect performance.

Section I: Trauma Pathologies

Module I: Impact of Trauma on Movement in Musculoskeletal, Neurological and Cardiovascular Systems
Module II: Impact of Trauma on Movement in Other Systems (Digestive, Hepatic, Renal, Reproductive, Integumentary, Lymphatic)
Module III: Movement Assessment with Trauma Pathologies
Module IV: Movement Prescription/Interventions for Trauma Pathologies

Section II: Neoplasms

Module I: Impact of Neoplasms on Movement in Musculoskeletal, Neurological and Cardiovascular Systems
Module II: Impact of Neoplasms on Movement in Other Systems (Digestive, Hepatic, Renal, Reproductive, Integumentary, Lymphatic)
Module III: Movement Assessment with Neoplasms
Module IV: Movement Prescription/Interventions for Neoplasms

Section III: Metabolic Pathologies

Module I: Impact of Metabolic Pathologies on Movement in Musculoskeletal, Neurological and Cardiovascular Systems
Module II: Impact of Metabolic Pathologies on Movement in Other Systems (Digestive, Hepatic, Renal, Reproductive, Integumentary, Lymphatic)
Module III: Movement Assessment with Metabolic Pathologies
Module IV: Movement Prescription/Interventions for Metabolic Pathologies

Section IV: Genetic Pathologies

Module I: Impact of Genetic Pathologies on Movement in Musculoskeletal, Neurological and Cardiovascular Systems
Module II: Impact of Genetic Pathologies on Movement in Other Systems (Digestive, Hepatic, Renal, Reproductive, Integumentary, Lymphatic)
Module III: Movement Assessment with Genetic Pathologies
Module IV: Movement Prescription/Interventions for Genetic Pathologies

Course 4: Pathokinesiology, Level II (3 months)

This final course focuses on contextual factors within the ICF model, including environmental, personal, and psychosocial influences on human movement and performance. Emphasis is placed on belief systems, culture, education, and socio-economic factors.

Section I: Infections

Module I: Impact of Infections on Movement in Musculoskeletal, Neurological and Cardiovascular Systems
Module II: Impact of Infections on Movement in Other Systems (Digestive, Hepatic, Renal, Reproductive, Integumentary, Lymphatic)
Module III: Movement Assessment with Infections

Section II: Autoimmune Pathologies

Impact of Autoimmune Pathologies on Movement in Musculoskeletal, Neurological and Cardiovascular Systems
Module II: Impact of Autoimmune Pathologies on Movement in Other Systems (Digestive, Hepatic, Renal, Reproductive, Integumentary, Lymphatic)
Module III: Movement Assessment with Autoimmune Pathologies
Module IV: Movement Prescription/Interventions for Autoimmune Pathologies

Section III: Psychological Pathologies

Module I: Impact of Psychological Pathologies on Movement in Musculoskeletal, Neurological and Cardiovascular Systems
Module II: Impact of Psychological Pathologies on Movement in Other Systems (Digestive, Hepatic, Renal, Reproductive, Integumentary, Lymphatic)
Module III: Movement Assessment with Psychological Pathologies
Module IV: Movement Prescription/Interventions for Psychological Pathologies

Section IV: Putting it all Together – Final Project

Optional: In-Person Retreat at the Polestar LIfe Center in North Carolina

Presentations of final projects
Live client cases
Daily movement/meditation/nature hikes/breaking bread
Lots of storytelling

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the most asked questions. Don’t see something here? Click here to contact us!

What are the pre-requisites?

Participants must be a graduate of a recognized movement or therapeutic education program.

Accepted credentials include:

Pilates Professionals: NCPT or equivalent certification
Personal Trainers: NASM or ACSM certification
Licensed Therapists: Physical Therapist (PT), Occupational Therapist (OT), or Athletic Trainer (ATC)

If your credentials are not listed, please contact us for a brief conversation. We’re happy to help determine eligibility.

Are there continuing education credits available?

Yes, continuing education credits will be available for Polestar Pilates and NPCP.

What does “self-paced learning” mean in this program?

Self-paced learning means you can move through the course materials on your own schedule within each semester. Each semester is a three-month period. Each course must be completed within the designated semester. While there are recommended timelines to support steady progress, you have flexibility to balance your studies with professional and personal commitments.

Will we have direct contact with Dr. Brent Anderson?

Yes! Participants will have opportunities to engage directly with Dr. Brent Anderson through live forums, discussions, and recorded teaching sessions. While the program is supported by a qualified faculty team, Dr. Brent remains actively involved in the educational experience.

Will there be interaction with instructors and feedback on assignments?

The course is designed to be primarily asynchronous, meaning you work through the information on your own at your own pace on your own time. Interaction with instructors will occur through the live forums and weekly emails/announcements within the course. Assignments are set up to be self-reflection or group activities where you can receive feedback from your peers.

How much interaction will I have with other students in the program?

You will be able to interact with other students through discussion boards in the learning platform, during the live forums and through a private Facebook group.

What if I have to cancel?

Please click here for our Terms, including the cancellation policy.

Can we have access to the learning management system content after graduation for reference?

Yes! Graduates retain access for 3 months to the course for reference, allowing you to revisit key content, concepts, and resources as you integrate them into your practice. After this three-month period, ongoing access is available through a minimal subscription fee, providing continued reference and professional support as your work evolves.

What happens if I don’t pass the competency tests?

Competency is assessed through module quizzes and a cumulative final exam. Each quiz, including the final exam, requires a minimum score of 80% to demonstrate mastery. Unlimited attempts are provided, allowing learners to review content and progress confidently toward completion.

How many hours should I plan on dedicating to the certification each semester?

Participants should plan for approximately 5–8 hours per week, depending on prior experience and learning pace. This includes video content, readings, assignments, and reflective practice.

Is the Pathokinesiology Certification available in other languages?

Currently, the course is offered in English. However, we are committed to global accessibility and continue to explore additional language offerings as the program evolves.

Is there any travel involved for this program?

No. The Pathokinesiology course is delivered fully online. All coursework, forums, and assessments can be completed remotely.

At what time are the live forums going to be held?

Live forums will be held in Eastern Time (ET). Session times are shared well in advance to help participants plan accordingly.

Do we have access to the forum recordings if we cannot make the live forum?

Yes! All live forums are recorded and made available in the learning management system so participants can watch at their convenience.

Do I need to be actively working as a therapist or instructor during the course?

Active clinical or teaching practice is not required. However, participants often find it helpful to apply concepts to real or hypothetical cases to deepen understanding.

How will the certification be recognized by the general public?

This certification reflects advanced education grounded in movement science, rehabilitation principles, and evidence-informed practice. Graduates are encouraged to communicate their credential as a professional specialization that enhances clinical reasoning, movement analysis, and client outcomes.