The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that lie at the bottom of your pelvis and surround your genitalia. These muscles work to support your abdominal contents (specifically the rectum, bladder, and uterus), allow for urination and defecation, prevent leakage of urine or stool when not desired, and help sexual processes including pleasure responses and reproductive functioning. These muscles also help to stabilize the pelvis, working with your abdominal muscles, back muscles, and diaphragm to make up your core.
HEALTH & WELLNESS The Newsletter About Your Health and Caring for Your Body
LOUDOUNPT.COM
PELVIC FLOOR PHYSICAL THERAPY WHAT IS IT & WHO CAN BENEFIT?
HEALTH & WELLNESS The Newsletter About Your Health and Caring for Your Body
LOUDOUNPT.COM Leesburg: (703) 443-6700 Lansdowne: (703) 858-9880
INSIDE: Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy: What is it and Who Can Benefit? • Common Diagnoses • Meet Our Team: Dr. Shaista Ambreen
PELVIC FLOOR PHYSICAL THERAPY WHAT IS IT & WHO CAN BENEFIT?
• To promote pelvic mobility for dynamic activities like walking, running, stair climbing. Motor Control: • To allow you full control of when you urinate, defecate, and pass gas. • To prevent painful conditions of the hip/ low back/pelvis. Schedule an appointment today by calling our Leesburg (703-443-6700) or Lansdowne (703-858-9880) clinics or online at loudounpt.com/newsletter- request-appointment/.
What Is the Pelvic Floor? The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that lie at the bottom of your pelvis and surround your genitalia. These muscles work to support your abdominal contents (specifically the rectum, bladder, and uterus), allow for urination and defecation, prevent leakage of urine or stool when not desired, and help sexual processes including pleasure responses and reproductive functioning. These muscles also help to stabilize the pelvis, working with your abdominal muscles, back muscles, and diaphragm to make up your core.
Strength: • To stabilize the pelvis and prevent hip/low back/pelvic pain. • To prevent leakage of urine or stool with increases in abdominal pressure like with sneezing, coughing, squatting, or jumping. Endurance: • To maintain proper spine posture and stabilize the pelvis over longer periods of time and with longer physical activities. Flexibility: • To relax and stretch for bearing down when trying to urinate, defecate, or during childbirth.
For proper functioning of the pelvic floor, it is important to have:
PELVIC FLOOR PHYSICAL THERAPY: WHAT IS IT & WHO CAN BENEFIT?
the person who studied the effects of strengthening the pelvic floor. While kegels can be a very helpful tool in pelvic floor rehab, strengthening is not always the answer for incontinence. Sometimes incontinence can be caused by muscles that are too tight or too contracted. If themuscles are always contracted or “on” then contracting them further will just lead tomore tightness, more fatigue, and more leakage. Plus, studies have shown thatmost people do kegels incorrectly! A pelvic floor physical therapist will help you determine if kegels are right for you! • “Mendon’t havepelvic floor problems!” There is a very high prevalence of prostate problems in older men. Because of this, men are particularly susceptible to pelvic floor issues like incontinence or difficulty voiding. See below for a list of common diagnoses that can be treated with pelvic floor physical therapy. • “I don’t plan on having a baby and I’ve never had a baby so I don’t need pelvic floor physical therapy!” As mentioned above, women are not the only people that have pelvic floors. Still, pelvic floor dysfunction can arise in women even if they have not had children. Refer to the next section for a list of common diagnoses that can be treated with pelvic floor physical therapy. For more support with overcoming pelvic floor issues, schedule an appointment at loudounpt.com/newsletter-request- appointment/ .
Does Everyone Have A Pelvic Floor? Yes! All people, regardless of gender, have pelvises and therefore have pelvic floor muscles. Should Pregnant or Postpartum Women Have Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy? Absolutely! Whether you’ve delivered vaginally or through a Cesarean section, being pregnant for 40 weeks puts a lot of pressure on the pelvic floor, which could lead to tension, weakness, andmotor control impairments. If you are currently pregnant, that is often the best time to see a pelvic floor physical therapist. You, then, have the opportunity to not only learn how to use your pelvic floor as your body changes and grows, but also how to effectively use your pelvic floor during labor and delivery. This can help reduce the risk of tearing and post-partumrelated issues like incontinence and pain. Having a baby is beautiful and joyous, but physically demanding! A pelvic floor physical therapist can help you prepare for the changes and rehabilitate your body so you can be at your best for your baby! Common Misconceptions: • “I do kegels so I don’t need pelvic floor physical therapy!” Kegel is the termfor pelvic floor contractions, named after
MEET OUR TEAM: SHAI STA AMBREEN, DPT Shaista Ambreen is a Doctor of Physical Therapy at our Leesburg location. professionals to apply their skill sets to achieve maximum productivity.
Shaista has extensive education in Pelvic Health as well as in Post-Cancer Rehabilitation. Her Medical andWellness Specialties include: Bowel and Bladder Dysfunction, Pelvic Pain and Sexual Dysfunction, and pain and weakness during pregnancy and postpartum. Much of her research in the field of Women’s Health Physical Therapy has been published in national and international journals of OBS and Gynea. In addition toWomen’s Health, Shaista also has experience in Pediatrics, Orthopedics, Musculoskeletal, Neuromuscular Disorders and Cardiac Rehabilitation. She has good hold over four languages including: Urdu, English, Punjabi and Hindi. In her free time, she loves to cook, travel with family, spend time in the outdoors, and watch Cricket and soccer matches.
Shaista graduated from the School of Physical Therapy in Karachi, Pakistan and completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree from Riphah International University at Islamabad. Shaista has enrolled in the Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Arcadia University in Montgomery, Pennsylvania to complete her professional credits. Shaista has also completed an MBA in Health Management. Shaista’s research topic in her doctorate program was Women’s Health. She has been a Women’s Health Physical Therapist for more than 10 years and has practiced in multiple health care settings throughout the United States including in Maryland and Washington.
She has experience in both clinical and administrative facets of Physical therapy with 12 years of experience inHospital Management.
She is versatile in department management and leadership, along with teaching experience. She understands the importance of promoting health and fitness during the restoration and maintenance of a patient’s physical functionality. Both a strong teambuilder and facilitator, Shaista fosters an atmosphere that encourages talented
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OUR SERVICES
COMMON DIAGNOSES:
• Return to Work Programs • Return to Play Programs • Auto Injury Recovery • Active Range of Motion (AROM) Therapy • Ultrasound Therapy • Inflammation Reduction
• Aquatic Therapy • Sports Rehabilitation • Resistance & Flexibility • Trigger Point Dry Needling • Cryotherapy • Electrical Stimulation • Pelvic Health • Women’s Health
*Not a complete list of ALL diagnoses seen by a pelvic floor PT!
• Pelvic Pain • Vulvodynia, Vestibulodynia • Vaginismus, Dyspareunia • Pelvic organ prolapse • Pudendal Neuralgia • Overactive bladder • Urinary Frequency • Nocturia (urine frequency at night)
• Urine or fecal incontinence • Interstitial Cystitis • Constipation • Incomplete evacuation • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (including Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis) • Post-surgical (abdominal surgeries, prostatectomy, hysterectomy, gender affirmation surgery)
WHAT PATIENTS ARE SAYING
HAS YOUR PA I N COME BACK?
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I worked with pelvic floor therapist, Shaista. She is really
Keep up with your physical therapy exercises to relieve pain and prevent further injuries. If your pain doesn’t subside, consult with your therapist about what other things might be causing pain. Call Loudoun Physical Therapy or visit our website at loudounpt.com/ newsletter-request-appointment/. We will guide you so you can get back to the activities you love.
good. After going through terrible back pain during pregnancy and a diastasis recti, I decided to get help for my back and my abdomen. Shaista knows what she is doing and does a good job of guiding me through the exercises. I highly recommend this facility to anyone who needs a pelvic floor specialist.” - R. P.
EXERC I SE ESSENT I AL S USE THIS EXERCISE TO STRENGTHEN BACK MUSCLES
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PELVIC TILT While lying on your back, use your stomach muscles to press your back into the floor.
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Exercises copyright of
Always consult your physical therapist or physician before starting exercises you are unsure of doing.
LOUDOUNPT.COM Leesburg: (703) 443-6700 Lansdowne: (703) 858-9880
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