A physical therapist is highly skilled in evaluating and treating various musculoskeletal and neurological conditions affecting the body. This profession focuses on assessing any underlying factors, such as strength, neuromuscular control, balance, coordination, skeletal alignment, and endurance, which may be contributing to impaired functional mobility, activity participation, and quality of life.
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We Provide Personal Care For Personal Issues!
A physical therapist is highly skilled in evaluating and treating variousmusculoskeletal and neurological conditions affecting the body. This profession focuses on assessing any underlying factors, such as strength, neuromuscular control, balance, coordination, skeletal alignment, and endurance, which may be contributing to impaired functional mobility, activity participation, and quality of life.
Of course, most people only seek physical therapy when they’re suffering from a common injury or condition such as whiplash, tendonitis, low back pain, ligament sprains, and plantar fasciitis. Perhaps lesser known is that chronic pelvic pain and dysfunction, including incontinence, can also respond positively to physical therapy intervention. Causes Of Incontinence And Chronic Pelvic Pain
• Incontinence, Chronic Pelvic Pain & Physical Therapy • Understanding Incontinence In Women • Exercise Essentials
NEWSLETTER Health &Wellness
Women’s Health Matters!
INCONTINENCE, CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN & PHYSICAL THERAPY
If you have pain in your pelvis, it may not always be fully clear what’s causing it. Some common causes of pelvic floor dysfunctionandchronicpelvicpain include,butarenot limited to: • Pregnancy • Sacroiliac joint dysfunction • Coccydynia • Irritation of the pudendal nerve (which originates near the bottom of your spine) • Irritable bowel syndrome • Levator ani syndrome (increased tension in pelvic floor muscles) • Post-surgical complications (e.g., pain following a hysterectomy, hernia repair, cesarean section, and/or prostatectomy) Any of these conditions may lead to inadequate support of the organs contained with your pelvic cavity, increased pressure or inflammation of nerves, muscles, and other connective tissues (including your bladder), and impaired pelvic bone alignment. These symptoms can be frustrating, painful, and embarrassing, and may limit your tolerance to daily participation in desired activities, including exercise. Other symptoms frequently appear with pelvic pain, including incontinence, bloating, abdominal pressure, reluctance to strain while defecating, and pain in the low back, buttocks, and hips. You may also have decreased tolerance to a variety of activities including sitting or standing, walking, exercise, and sexual intercourse. How A Physical Therapist Can Treat Pelvic Pain Every patient presenting with chronic pelvic pain is unique. If you come toseeaphysical therapist foryourpelvicdysfunction,you’ll be taken through a thorough physical examination and patient history questionnaire. He or she will ask you specific questions about your pain, what makes it worse and better, and whether you have a history of any related issues. Based on the results of the examination, your physical therapist can then develop a customized treatment plan to relieve your symptoms and address the suspected underlying causes to prevent recurring dysfunction.
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This Pain Doesn’t Have To StayWith You! UNDERSTANDING INCONTINENCE
Urinary incontinence has a reputation of being something only little old ladies have. But many young people get urinary incontinence. And while more women than men are affected, men can have urinary problems too, especially after prostate surgery. Fortunately, there are many treatments for urinary incontinence. Behavioral treatment. Some people with urinary incontinence may get relief by making simple lifestylechanges. Ifyouhavestress incontinence, for instance, in which you leak urine when you cough, sneeze, or laugh, your physical therapist may tell you to limit how much you drink. If you have urge incontinence, in which you get the sudden urge to urinate and can’t always make it to the bathroom in time, your physical therapist may tell you to avoid spicy foods, caffeine, and carbonated drinks, because they can irritate the bladder and make the problemworse. Exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, known as Kegels, can sometimes help people with stress incontinence. Kegels can also help people with urge incontinence. Sometimes, Kegels are combined with biofeedback techniques to help you know if you are doing the exercises properly. For urge incontinence, bladder training, sometimes called bladder retraining, can also help. This involves gradually increasing the interval time between trips to the bathroom,
Mild to moderate cases of common types of incontinence can be cured or greatly improved by behavioral or exercise therapy. We can also teach you habits and techniques to reduce urgency and urge incontinence (or leaking with a strong urge on the way to the bathroom). Even periodic incontinence is not something you have to deal with. We can help!
working up to longer and longer intervals between bathroom stops. Devicesandabsorbentproducts. Protectivepads and panty liners can help avoid embarrassing situations. A pessary, a plastic device inserted into the vagina, may help prevent urine leakage by supporting the neck of the bladder; it is most useful for stress incontinence.
The most reliable chances to see Alaska’s northern lights (also known as the Aurora Borealis) are in Fairbanks, and above the Arctic Circle. If you visit Alaska in November, December, or January, you will experience a very short period of daylight providing a unique experience in the high northern hemisphere. The Aurora Borealis
Staff Spotlight
WillowPhysical Therapy would like to Welcome Dr. Hannah Petersen, PT, DPT
Patient Success Spotlight
“I have been privileged to have two very helpful P.T.’s work with me. They have been very helpful with a variety of issues. THANK YOU!” They have been very helpful with a variety issues.
Originally from Alaska, Hannah is thrilled to return to Fairbanks and join Willow PhysicalTherapy. Hannah was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, and recently moved “home” from Minnesota with her husband, Kris, their baby, Owen, and three dogs (Tessa, Ava, and Grit). She has been out of state since graduating from high school, earning her Bachelors of Science in Health Promotion in 2009 from South Dakota State University, and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Rhode Island in 2012. Hannah spent her career living and practicing as a licensed physical therapist in the state of Minnesota. She practiced as a contract/traveling physical therapist before having Owen in 2017, after which time she began practicing as an independent physical therapist. She has quite a depth of experience working with a variety of ages (1 day old up to 103 years old!), populations, and diagnoses. Hannah’s passion lies in outpatient physical therapy, where she can approach a patient holistically, ultimately treating the root of the issue to achieve successful outcomes. While she enjoys treating a wide variety of orthopedic and neurological conditions, Hannah is excited to be meeting her goal of specializing in Pelvic and Women’s Health in the Fairbanks area. Hannah is also a Certified Kinesiotaping Practitioner and is certified in the LSVT BIG program. In their free time, she, Kris, Owen, and the dogs enjoy being outside taking advantage of all Alaska has to offer.
Exercise Essential
Relieves Knee Pain KNEE SQUEEZE
Stand with good posture, and a foam roll or pillow between knees. Reach overhead, engage core, squeeze foam roll or pillow. Bend forward at the hips, reaching toward toes. Repeat 3 times.
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