As physical therapists, we are trained to comprehensively assess a patient’s musculoskeletal system and find the causes that drive pain or discomfort that make day-to-day activities painful or challenging. Women’s health physical therapy is no different -- it is the assessment of the pelvic floor muscles and how they are impacting things like bowel and bladder function, sexual dysfunction, and even orthopedic issues such as hip, low back, or pelvic pain. Especially after child birth, women expect (or at least aren’t surprised) to leak urine when laughing, coughing, or jumping on a trampoline. Although this is incredibly common, it is not in fact normal and indicates that the pelvic floor muscles aren’t doing their job!
October 2020 NEWS
WOMEN’S HEALTH PHYSICAL THERAPY?
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PELVIC FLOOR DYSFUNCTION
INSIDE: � Meet Our Therapists! � Why Am I Experiencing Pelvic Pain? � Open Letter
Health & Fitness The Newsletter About Achieving and Maintaining Optimal Well-Being
October 2020
WHAT IS WOMEN’S HEALTH PHYSICAL THERAPY?
As physical therapists, we are trained to comprehensively assess a patient’s musculoskeletal system and find the causes that drive pain or discomfort that make day-to-day activities painful or challenging. Women’s health physical therapy is no different -- it is the assessment of the pelvic floor muscles and how they are impacting things like bowel and bladder function, sexual dysfunction, and even orthopedic issues such as hip, low back, or pelvic pain. Especially after child birth, women expect (or at least aren’t surprised) to leak urine when laughing, coughing, or jumping on a trampoline. Although this is incredibly common, it is not in fact normal and indicates that the pelvic floor muscles aren’t doing their job! Pelvic floor therapy, though, is not only for women with urinary incontinence or clearly defined pelvic pain. Low back pain after pregnancy may be due to the separation of the abdominal muscles and may benefit from physical therapy intervention. Nagging hip, tailbone, or sacroiliac joint (the bottommost part of the spine where it meets the hip bones) pain that hasn’t responded well to traditional therapy may be a reason to seek out a women’s health physical therapist. The pelvic diaphragm is responsible for supporting the pelvis, supporting internal organs (such as the bladder and uterus), participating in sexual function, stabilizing and helping with load transfer to and from the trunk, and playing an important role in posture and breathing. Just like other body parts, the pelvic floor can become tight and painful, and this may lead to painful intercourse, pain with placing a tampon, having a pelvic exam performed, or even urinary retention and difficulty emptying the bladder. It is possible that the pelvic floor muscles are too tight and cause urinary leakage, as well. A tight muscle is not always a strong muscle. Alternatively, a deconditioned, injured, or weak pelvic floor will also struggle to do its job -- the pelvic floor has a lot of jobs! Women’s health patients follow the same recovery process as all other patients — a three-phase process to relieve pain and discomfort, restore function to tissue, and return the patient to their prior activities before the pain. We first want to identify the driver or cause of the pain and relieve symptoms through improving tissue quality. For pelvic floor therapy, this may mean working on scar tissue from an episiotomy or stitching after childbirth, working on tight muscles to release, and teaching the patient about alternate products that may work better for their tissues. We then work to restore function by strengthening muscles as appropriate and teaching techniques
to improve awareness of the pelvic floor muscles and decrease muscular tightness independently. Our final goal is to return to activities without dysfunction. That might mean leaving the house without having to go to the bathroom first for fear of leakage, going to yoga class without urinary leakage, or lifting a baby out of the crib without low back pain. How do you know if women’s health physical therapy is appropriate for you? If you have one or more of the following symptoms, you may benefit from an evaluation from a women’s health physical therapist. If you have ever fallen on your tailbone or experienced tailbone pain, have had pain with intercourse or immediately after, have any of the following urinary symptoms: accidental loss of urine, feeling unable to completely empty your bladder, having the urge to void just a few minutes after previously voiding, pain with urination, or difficulty starting or stopping urine, have experienced pelvic pain (in genitals, perineum, pubic or bladder area), wake up two or more times to urinate, or experience a pelvic heaviness or sensation of pelvic organs slipping/falling out. These symptoms do not have to be accepted as normal and can often be improved with physical therapy intervention. Overall, the pelvic floor is involved in many body functions, which when not operating optimally, significantly disrupt one’s quality of life. This is unfortunate because there are some simple conservative answers that do not involve medication or surgery. The physical therapy solution at Full Potential for the pelvic floor addresses the cause of your pain and urinary leakage through the correction of alignment, muscle tightness, and weakness along with muscle retraining and education. This type of help reestablishes the control and relief to enjoy life again. If you are experiencing the symptoms mentioned above, talk to your doctor about a referral to Full Potential. Do you need more information? Look at our website, fullpotentialpt.com, and review the women’s health section. We even have free consults to see if PT can help you. Full Potential is here for you in so many ways, all you have to do is make a phone call to start the process. To a Better Future, Amanda Collins, Doctor of PT Women’s Health Specialist
www.fullpotentialpt.com
MEET OUR WOMEN’S HEALTH THERAPISTS!
AMANDA COLLINS, DPT
Amanda received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Hope College and went on to graduate from the University of Michigan-Flint in 2015 with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT). She joined the Full Potential staff in 2015 after graduation where she started the Women’s Health Program and since has expanded her specialization in this field to be able to provide comprehensive treatment for pelvic and pregnancy related pain; along with effective care in overcoming incontinence related problems. She is skilled in treatment of all regions of the body, but especially enjoys treating the pelvic floor and women’s health. Amanda is a mother herself and is passionate about changing the idea that leakage and pain are normal for women after childbirth.
MARI HOPPE, DPT
Mari graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2009 with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) and has been practicing at Full Potential Physical Therapy since graduation. She has furthered her education by taking courses at the Postural Restoration Institute and has expanded her skills as well through advanced training in Women’s Health and pelvic pain. Her education had given her the ability to treat all areas of the body and she is passionate about helping clients find relief and learn to be independent in their orthopedic self-care so they can get back to the activities they enjoy.
Healthy Recipe
BLUEBERRY MUFFIN OVERNIGHT OATS
INGREDIENTS • 1 cup rolled oats • 1/2 cup blueberries, mashed with a fork
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest (+more for topping!) • pinch of salt • 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt • 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1 tablespoon honey
DIRECTIONS First, mash 1/2 cup blueberries in a large bowl. Then add the rest of the wet ingredients and mix until smooth. Add in dry ingredients and mix again. Place in the refrigerator, cover for at least 2 hours or overnight. Serve cold. Top with granola, lemon zest, and fresh blueberries.
Source: https://fitfoodiefinds.com/blueberry-muffin-overnight-oats/
www.fullpotentialpt.com
www.fullpotentialpt.com
WHY AM I EXPERIENCING PELVIC PAIN? The pelvic area is a complex and important part of the body that serves several functions, especially for women. Pelvic pain can occur at different points during your menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, after giving birth, after surgery, or as a result of an underlying condition, such as endometriosis. Some pelvic conditions may also result in painful intercourse or infertility issues, which can be addressed and possibly fixed through pelvic floor rehabilitation. Some of the most common pelvic conditions that our physical therapists treat include:
• Urinary frequency or leakage. A physical therapist can help determine the root of your problem with urinary incontinence, rather than simply treating the symptoms. Pelvic floor rehabilitation will focus on strengthening the muscles under your bladder in order to treat and eliminate incontinence issues. • Constipation. Pelvic floor rehabilitation can loosen and relax the muscles in your pelvic and anal areas, which can help relieve and eliminate constipation. WHAT CAN I EXPECTWITH PELVIC FLOOR REHABILITATION? This specific form of physical therapy works on strengthening the muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the pelvic floor. When muscles in the pelvic area become tight or weak, your daily life can be greatly affected, as this region helps in supporting the core of your body and is an integral part of everyday movement. One of our dedicated Holland, MI physical therapists will evaluate your medical history and provide a musculoskeletal examination to determine what specific type of treatment you’ll need. This may include proactive and/or preventative treatments. If you are suffering from pelvic pain, don’t wait any longer to contact our Holland, MI physical therapy office. Schedule an appointment with Full Potential Physical Therapy today to get started on your path toward recovery and relief!
• Postpartum pelvic pain. After giving birth, it is common for new mothers to experience strained muscles and/or connective tissue damage in their pelvic floor. Pelvic floor rehabilitation helps in reducing pain, in addition to strengthening any damaged muscles or tissues. • Pain following abdominal surgery. If you are recovering from a recent surgical procedure, pelvic floor rehabilitation can help in breaking up scar tissue, improving strength, and regaining range of motion in your abdomen/pelvic region. • Endometriosis. Endometriosis can affect the bones, muscles, ligaments, and nerves in the pelvic region. Pelvic floor rehabilitation can help reduce the pain and bloating that you may be experiencing with endometriosis, in addition to strengthening the pelvic floor muscles.
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286 Hoover Blvd • Holland, MI 49423 Phone: 616.392.2172 | Fax: 616392.1726 tessa@fullpotentialpt.com | fullpotentialpt.com
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Practice News
JOIN US FOR OUR WOMEN’S HEALTH WEBINAR!
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9 TH 7:00 PM
PRESENTED BY: DR. AMANDA COLLINS, PT
LEARN WHAT WE CAN DO AT FULL POTENTIAL TO HELP YOU WITH URINARY URGENCY, LEAKAGE, AND/OR INCONTINENCE
CALL (616) 392-2172 FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER
1. Use the camera app on your phone to scan the QR code on the right. 2. This will take you directly to our Google Reviews page. 3. Let us know how we did and tell us your story! We Make It Easy To Leave A Review!
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EXERCISE ESSENTIALS: Try these simple exercises to strengthen back muscles
st d.
Bird Dog 4-Point Arm & Leg Raise
Begin by placing your knees and hands on the floor, with your hips and shoulders at a 90° angle. While keeping stable and engaging your core muscles, lift one arm and an opposite leg straight out toward the horizon, with your thumb pointed to the ceiling. Place both arm and leg back down to starting position. Repeat 10 times and then repeat this exercise with the opposite arm and leg. To build stability, this exercise can first be performed using only the arm or leg, and the opposing arm or leg can be added once ready for progression.
Swan Dive
Lay on stomach with your arms overhead. Press your chest upwards, keeping the muscles in your trunk and legs relaxed. Repeat 6 times.
Always consult your physical therapist or physician before starting exercises you are unsure of doing.
Patient Success Story!
“I am Much Stronger Now!” “Since attending physical therapy here at Full Potential PT I have been able to finally get relief from my pain! I have become much stronger after doing the exercises and stretches too!” — Anthony T.
“No More Neck Pain!” “I no longer experience neck pain and I have learned how important good posture and staying active are for the body! Everyone here at Full Potential PT is very professional, friendly, and never demeaning! Also, very proficient and well-educated in physical therapy.” — Lucille S.
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