Diastasis
I have been very interested in postpartum care lately... We welcome lots of mothers and their newborns coming into our baby-friendly clinic. As pelvic floor physical therapists, we should be educating these postpartum patients on what is safe for them, movement-wise,...
Prebiotics and Probiotics: Do they work?
Recently, I've had more than a few patients telling me that they are taking probiotics. To be honest, I didn't really know that much about probiotics, apart from the ever-present and utterly spoofable Activia television ads. So I did some research and this is what I...
The Female Viagra?
Everyone knows about Viagra. We're bombarded with commercials during every sporting event; it usually starts with a cute couple in their middle age sitting in a bathtub. We also know that Viagra will afford gentleman unlimited hours of pleasure. But how does this...
What truly defines the diagnosis of constipation?
A patient recently brought to me an article entitled, “What is truly regular for bowel movements?” I find this interesting because in our field of work, we often encounter misconceptions around what constitutes true constipation. Patients come in thinking they're...
Prolapse after Childbirth: What to do?
Childbirth is a wonderful miracle, but it does have its own unique complications, some of which people are hesitant to talk openly about. Regardless of whether you have a vaginal delivery or cesarian section, prolapse is a very real possibility. There are many...
Barre Class and Your Pelvic Floor
Is barre helping or harming your pelvic floor? I want to start out by saying that I adore barre class. It was love at first sight - from the moment I placed my hand on that barre, I’ve been hooked. Since my first day a year and a half ago, I’ve taken more than 100...
Postpartum Intimacy
I am a huge fan of the show Friday Night Lights. As I approached the second season, an issue arises where one of the characters (Tami Taylor) experiences difficulty getting intimate with her husband, about 6 weeks after she had given birth. Most doctors tell new...
Why I’m taking the WCS
When I was in graduate school for physical therapy, I spent at least 8 hours per day in class, and after all that, I'd return home to study or practice what we learned that day. When I completed my degree, I made a vow to myself that I would never spend time outside...
Men and Erectile Dysfunction: to kegel or not to kegel?
I recently treated a young twenty-something man with a primary complaint of erectile dysfunction. When he started to notice this issue, he attempted to treat it by performing lots of kegels. (If you haven't heard of kegel exercises, they're done by repeatedly...
Acupuncture: just a placebo or something more?
I was welcomed to my inbox this morning by an article in The Atlantic, sent by a friend. Editor Jennie Rothenberg Gritz provides some insight into how the influx of alternative medicine is starting to shape our everyday lives. And since alternative medicine has become...
Vulvodynia and Pelvic Therapy
Recognizing Vulvodynia: do you experience any of the following? Itching or burning in the vulva that is not alleviated with topical creams Burning or itching experienced with wearing underwear or tight pants Pain with tampon use or intercourse Pain with light touch to...
Biofeedback for Pelvic Floor Rehab?
As a pelvic floor physical therapy clinic, we always have questions from patients about using biofeedback during the rehabilitation process, so felt it was an appropriate time to blog about it! What is biofeedback? Most of you have experienced biofeedback in your...
