Many birth parents are unaware of the common post delivery pelvic floor problems—also known as Pelvic Floor Dysfunction or PFD—that can present in postpartum recovery. Pelvic Floor Dysfunction includes problems with bowel and bladder function and support, as well as...
Kathe shares her expertise with JESSA ZIMMERMAN of the The Better Sex Podcast. She talks about the types of problems and treatment and what to expect during the “4th trimester." Kathe outlines common ways of decreasing pain with intercourse after childbirth through...
Did you know that diaphragmatic breathing can help with that “gotta go” anxiety feeling that accompanies urinary urgency and incontinence? About 40% of women in the United States experience urinary urgency, the feeling of having to urinate right now, or urinary...
A physical therapist is best suited to assess, treat and help a woman manage the musculoskeletal and urogenital changes of the postpartum woman in the 4th trimester and beyond. This review of postpartum exercise literature will assist the therapist in understanding...
Physical therapists are in a unique position to evaluate and treat pelvic organ prolapse with movement, exercise, and breathing assessments. Some women want to get to the top of the stairs, others to the top of Mt. Rainer without symptom aggravation. The physical...
In 2017, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology reported [1] on The 4th Trimester Project patient engagement meeting, where new mothers were asked, “what issues are not effectively communicated to women?” Women reported a desire for clinicians to ask...
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) Committee on Obstetric Practice acknowledges a need to change the focus of postpartum care. A committee opinion, released from the Presidential Task Force on Redefining the Postpartum Visit, supports postpartum...
“It isn’t what you do but how you do it” John Wooden said that during his tenure as UCLA ‘s most successful men’s basketball coach, leading the team to 10 NCAA championships. His quote has followed me through my career as a physical therapist. Although it was...
Low Back and Pelvic Girdle Pain - Understanding Pelvic Floor Connections Understanding the connection between the pelvic girdle and the pelvic floor can improve low back pain and sacro-iliac joint patient outcomes. It can guide treatment, facilitate referrals, if...
A few years after I started treating pelvic floor dysfunction, Steven Covey published the book titled The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey’s philosophies include self-mastery, seeking to understand and working with a team to achieve your goals, all...