There is a lot of buzz around the healthcare world right now about pelvic physical therapy and pelvic health awareness for women. At least it seems that way in my little corner of the internet.
I find it disheartening that many women suffer in silence with pelvic pain, urinary and bowel leakage, pelvic organ prolapse, and many other conditions that impact their normal daily functions. Many women don't know that these conditions are not "normal," and they don't have to live with them.
That's where pelvic floor physical therapy comes into play. As a women's health and pelvic floor physical therapist, it is my goal to empower and educate women about their bodies so they can heal and live their best life.
So why are women's health physical therapists so important?
This may not be much of a surprise, but women are structurally and hormonally different from men.
Women's bodies are designed differently from men's to allow for the growth, development, and eventual exit of a baby. These structural differences make women prone to different injuries and require additional considerations regarding rehabbing injuries.
Hormone variations that occur throughout a woman's life, such as puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause, also need to be taken into effect when developing a treatment approach. Hormone fluctuations can impact muscles, tendons, and bones, decreasing their strength and elasticity, increasing the risk of injury in women.
With increased awareness of these considerations, the field of women's health physical therapy has been developed. Many women's health physical therapists undergo special training and certification to learn about these variations and considerations concerning treating female patients.
Here's what makes me unique compared to my peers
I have 10 years of experience treating orthopedic conditions in women before niching my practice to specialize in pelvic and women's health with special considerations for pregnant and postpartum women. In addition, I have 20 years of experience as a yoga teacher, making me an expert in the movement of the human body.
When a woman comes to me for care, I take a holistic approach, assessing movement patterns in relation to your entire system.
A holistic approach ensures that we discover the root cause of your issue to prevent injury and eliminate pain and dysfunctions within the body. It's not enough to just look at a woman's pelvic floor when she comes in with pelvic pain or urinary incontinence. The whole body is integrated and works together, so it's essential to consider the entire system.
What is the holistic pelvic floor & core system?
The pelvic floor system is the interconnectedness of the core (abdominals), pelvic floor muscles, and diaphragm. I also call this the inner core piston, or piston theory . This system needs to work optimally for the proper function of your body.
The pelvic floor muscles act as a hammock within your pelvis to support your internal organs, facilitate bowel, bladder, and sex functions, and act as a posture stabilizer.
Understanding how intertwined the pelvic floor is with the body's movement systems makes it easy to see why assessing the entire body, including posture, is vital. Posture can have a tremendous impact on the pelvic floor function, and it's incredible how a tiny adjustment can make a significant difference in mobility and function.
What happens when you come to me for a pelvic floor physical therapy evaluation?
When a woman comes to me for a pelvic health physical therapy appointment, I'll ask an in-depth series of questions about your:
movement patterns, habits, and style
your exercise habits and preferences
medical history
pregnancy and birth history (including postpartum)
sex history
history of any hormonal imbalance
your nutritional intake
and most importantly, your GOALS!
Knowing your goals and what activities you want to return to post-therapy is the most vital piece of information I gather. It is my job to listen to what you tell me to help solve your problem to allow you to return to functioning and enjoying the activities you love.
After asking a series of questions about your health history, we'll do a physical examination. I'll use my hands to palpate, or feel the muscles and tissues, to determine any areas of tightness, tenderness, or increased or decreased tone.
I'll also ask you to perform specific movements to observe how your body orchestrates the movement. During the assessment, I'll make a note of any imbalances or patterns I see. I then use these findings to diagnose and lead your treatment.
What kind of things do we work on in therapy?
I am big on backing my techniques on research to make sure you are getting the best outcomes from our treatment approach.
During a session, we may work on:
Posture
Breathwork and reconnecting the inner piston system
Individualized exercise plans
Building efficient movements
Please remember that each patient is unique and will have their own treatment plan tailored to them.
Working on these systems can heal and improve
Back pain
Leaking of pee, poo, or gas
Pelvic Pain
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Constipation
Abdominal Separation or Diastasis Rectus Abdominus
Pain with sex
When women come to me for childbirth preparation, my goal is to prepare the pelvic floor and core for childbirth. Then to help it heal postpartum by synchronizing the parts of the inner core system back up after birth.
As stated before, the primary goal is to educate and empower you to take back your body and understand how it works so you can live your best life.
Are you struggling with any of the issues I mentioned here? Or maybe you have another pelvic health-related problem? Then I would encourage you to seek out a pelvic women's health physical therapist.
If you have more questions about what a pelvic floor or women's health physical therapist can help you with, I'm more than happy to answer any of your questions. You can reach out to me at becky@budandbloomptaustin.com or Find me on Facebook or Instagram and message me.
I also offer telehealth and in-person services. You can find out more here.