Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr Chisako Sugiyama-Murray.
Hi Dr Chisako , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Built Strong Pelvic Health & Physical Therapy was born from a combination of my professional experience, my passion for movement, and my own personal journey into motherhood.
I have been involved in physical therapy, sports medicine, and movement for more than 20 years. As a former Division I tennis player at the University of Michigan and professional tennis player, I initially gravitated toward sports medicine and orthopedic physical therapy. I loved helping people understand their bodies, overcome injuries, and return to the activities they enjoyed.
After becoming a mother, my perspective began to expand. During my own postpartum journey in 2020, I became much more interested in the pelvic floor and the many physical changes women experience during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. I realized how many women were struggling with issues such as pelvic pain, urinary leakage, diastasis recti, weakness, and difficulty returning to exercise, yet often did not know that physical therapy could help.
That realization became the inspiration for Built Strong PT.
I wanted to create a practice that looked at the whole person rather than simply treating a diagnosis or a body part. I also wanted to remove some of the barriers that can make it difficult for people—especially busy parents—to prioritize their own health. That is why Built Strong PT began as a concierge, home-based physical therapy practice. Instead of asking patients to rearrange their lives to get to an office, I could bring individualized care directly to them.
What started as a passion for pelvic health has continued to grow into a practice that combines pelvic health, pregnancy and postpartum care, orthopedic physical therapy, and whole-body movement. Today, Built Strong PT works with people at many different stages of life—from athletes and active adults to new mothers, older adults, and men experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction.
Built Strong PT is ultimately a reflection of what I believe physical therapy should be: personal, empowering, evidence-based, and centered around the individual.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting Built Strong PT was both incredibly exciting, rewarding but challenging. One of the biggest struggles was learning how to transition from being a clinician to also being a treating physical therapist and business owner. I was comfortable treating patients and helping people move better, but suddenly I had to think about marketing, finances, insurance, scheduling, networking, building a website, and all of the other aspects of running a business that no one teaches you!
Another challenge was building something from the ground up without knowing exactly where it would lead. When you start your own practice, there is no established patient schedule or built-in referral network. I had to put myself out there, introduce myself to other professionals and local businesses, educate people about pelvic health, and build trust within the community. There were definitely moments of uncertainty and times when I questioned whether I was doing enough or whether the practice would grow.
Pelvic health itself also comes with a unique challenge: many people are still uncomfortable talking about it. Issues like urinary leakage, pelvic pain, prolapse, or postpartum changes can be very personal, and many people don’t realize that physical therapy can help. A large part of building Built Strong PT has therefore been about education—normalizing these conversations and helping people understand that they don’t have to simply accept these symptoms as part of aging, pregnancy, or motherhood.
Starting a business while raising a family has also taught me a great deal about balance. Building something that I am passionate about while being present for my husband and children has required flexibility, patience, and learning to accept that everything doesn’t have to happen all at once.
Looking back, some of the hardest parts of starting Built Strong PT have also been the most rewarding. Every referral, every new patient, every community connection, and every person who tells me they finally understand their body reminds me why I started. Building a practice takes time, but there is something incredibly meaningful about creating something that reflects your values and allows you to make a difference in people’s lives.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Built Strong Pelvic Health and Physical Therapy?
About Built Strong Pelvic Health & Physical Therapy
Built Strong Pelvic Health & Physical Therapy is a concierge physical therapy practice founded by Dr. Chisako Sugiyama-Murray, PT, DPT, PCES, with a mission to provide personalized, whole-body care that helps people feel stronger, more confident, and more connected to their bodies.
Based in Northern New Jersey, Built Strong PT specializes in pelvic health, pregnancy and postpartum care, orthopedic and sports physical therapy. The practice works with women and men across different stages of life, from athletes and active adults to new and expecting parents and older adults.
What makes Built Strong PT unique is its personalized approach. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, Dr. Chisako meets patients where they are—literally and figuratively. The concierge model allows care to take place in the comfort of a patient’s home or other convenient setting, making it easier to incorporate treatment into real life.
Education is also at the heart of Built Strong PT. Pelvic health concerns such as urinary leakage, pelvic pain, prolapse, diastasis recti, postpartum weakness, and pelvic floor dysfunction are often things people are hesitant to discuss or mistakenly believe they simply have to live with. Built Strong strives to normalize these conversations and empower patients with the knowledge and tools to better understand their bodies.
While pelvic health has become a cornerstone of the practice, Built Strong’s foundation in orthopedic and sports medicine remains an important part of its identity. The goal is not simply to treat an injury or symptom, but to understand the person as a whole and help them return to the activities, exercise, sports, and everyday life they value.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love that we are community based. We travel to many Northern New Jersey cities. We also have the ability to see clients in Verona, NJ as well as Rutherford, NJ for convenience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.builtstrongpt.com
- Instagram: @Builtstrongpt
- Facebook: Built Strong Pelvic Health and Physical Therapy
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BuiltStrongPT
