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The Femina Physical Therapy Blog
Featuring original articles by our staff about current events and trends
With emphasis on vaginismus, pregnancy and postpartum best practices, treatments for incontinence, and other topics related to the health of your pelvic floor.
Featured From the Blog:
Introducing The Origin Fund - Helping Women in Need
Helping Women in Need With Our Community in Mind
The Origin Fund is dedicated to facilitating access to services that address a person’s physical, emotional and medical needs. Our focus is on individuals with pelvic health dysfunctions, and we are dedicated to improving the biopsychosocial aspects of each person as a whole. Through education, outreach and providing access to these services, we can support individuals on their journey to address their pain and dysfunction—linking patients to our network of referrals that provide these services.
Therapeutic Breast Massage in Lactation (TBML)
Therapeutic Breast Massage in Lactation Can Help Make Breastfeeding Less Painful
Breastfeeding is widely accepted as the normal standard for providing nutrition to newborns, however, many women who do not reach their breastfeeding goals. US national data stated that breast pain was a commonly reported reason for women weaning less than 1 month postpartum. Within that segment, 29% of women who participated in the study stated that “breastfeeding was too painful” to continue.
In the same study, 24% of women reported “breasts feel(ing) too full or engorged” as another reason to discontinue breastfeeding prior to 1 month postpartum.1 Currently, The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding of infants for the first six months of life. As physical therapists who treat patients with postpartum conditions, we are well positioned to make a big impact on patients with breastfeeding related pain and reduce barriers to continued breastfeeding!
Treating Bloating and Abdominal Distension: a Multi-Disciplinary Team
Why a Multi-Disciplinary Team is Best for Treating Bloating and Abdominal Distension
Bloating, abdominal distension, loose stools, constipation, abdominal or pelvic pain, fatigue, brain fog, weakness, nutritional deficiencies… these symptoms may be caused by a variety of gastrointestinal or pelvic conditions. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, this article is a good place to start when deciding who to have on your care team, and what treatments can help!
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 10837 Views
If you’re facing a diagnosis of bladder cancer or a similar health concern, sex may be the last thing on your mind.
However, your sex life after a cystectomy (bladder removal surgery) should be a major consideration for any doctor who recommends it.
Sadly, research shows that’s much more likely to be true for men than it is for women. In fact – although sexual function after bladder removal is ‘routinely considered’ for male patients – surgeons in one study discussed complications that could affect pelvic health and sexual function with just 13% of female patients. Worse, the medical counseling those women got after surgery ignored the topic of sex altogether.
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- Written by: Staff
- 9400 Views
How much do we really learn about intimacy, affection, sensual touching and sex while growing up?
A lot of our references for intimacy come from what we see in our families, movies, and for sex, a lot of the time porn. What we are individually exposed to will possibly become what we think is the norm, which can then possibly skew our views towards intimacy with a partner. For instance, if a woman watches porn for a sex reference she may think her vulva has to look a certain way or that she needs to attain an orgasm with penetration or to be intimate with her partner she has to have sex, when that’s not really the case.
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- Written by: Staff
- 10116 Views
During this time of "safer at home" orders, we have been having to find more creative ways to move at home.
If you are someone that experiences urinary incontinence and/or pelvic organ prolapse you may not be going out now to see a pelvic health physical therapist to guide you through a routine. In this blog post I’m going to go over a few mat pilates exercises I like to do with patients that experience urinary incontinence and/or pelvic organ prolapse (POP). A study done in 2018 by Lausen et al, found that in the group that did mat pilates with standard physical therapy had more positive outcomes with their urinary incontinence, as well as, quality of life.
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- Written by: Mary P. Shriver, CMT
- 15123 Views
Chronic pain doesn’t just happen to the body. It effects our thoughts and our feelings.
When pain persists beyond the body's normal healing range, 12-20 weeks (let alone over 6 months or even 6 years) it can make us worried and upset. That worry and upset can make the pain feel worse. In fact, studies now show that unchecked thoughts and feelings can hijack the body/mind setting off a vicious cycle of chronic pain.
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- Written by: Staff
- 4000 Views
Check out these yoga poses for working at home that you can do in your home office setup!
Peform them at least 1-2x during your workday.
Many people working from home with the COVID-19 pandemic are finding themselves sitting hunched over a computer in non-ergonomic work setups -- kitchen counters, hard chairs or stools, or simply propped up in bed. Working for hours in these positions will lead to a stiff neck and shoulders, a sore lower back and tight hips, glutes,and pelvic floor muscles.
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- Written by: Staff
- 5072 Views
What is Anal Incontinence?
Anal Incontinence is defined as the complaint of involuntary loss of liquid or solid stool or the involuntary loss of gas.
It is supposedly an underreported condition because of its stigmatizing nature. It occurs in approximately 50% of women at long-term follow-up after anal sphincter injuries (Gommesen et al., 2019; Haylen et al., 2010; Damon et al., 2006; Cotterill, 2008).
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- Written by: Staff
- 12374 Views
Trigger Point Injections for Chronic Pelvic Pain and Myofascial Pain
A 2018 study by Bartley et al., showed that transvaginal trigger point injections helped reduce chronic pelvic pain, particularly when in conjunction with therapies including pelvic floor physical therapy.
What is Chronic Pelvic Pain and How Common is it?
Chronic pelvic pain affects 1 in 7 women in the United States and can have significant negative affects on quality of life, physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. While there are various causes for pelvic pain, a common definition of chronic pelvic pain is pain that is noncyclical and occurring for at least 6 months (Bartley et al, 2018).
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- Written by: Staff
- 8961 Views
Did you know that when you sing you are not only using your vocal chords, but also the lungs, the diaphragm, the abdominal muscles, and also the pelvic floor?
It’s no surprise that the body is all connected, as in it’s one whole unit, but it’s easy to forget that an activity like singing is a dynamic and complex way we use our bodies. In a 2018 literature review, voice researchers Emerich Gordon & Reed refer to this YouTube video by osteopathic practitioner Roger Fiammetti which beautifully shows how the simple act of breathing involves not just the lungs, but the muscular system from the face and neck down to the bottom of our pelvic floor and the perineum, the video also outlines how the body has four diaphragms which help regulate air and fluid pressure throughout the body.
In fact, look at the structural similarities of the vocal chords and the pelvic floor:
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 11741 Views
You feel it coming, but you can’t stop it; that twitch in your pelvic floor perfectly timed to your sudden cough or sneeze, or the confirmation you’ve pushed that pigeon pose a little too far. Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) – involuntary leakage that occurs with increases in intra-abdominal pressure – is one of the more frustrating and embarrassing hallmarks of womanhood, the inescapable tradeoff for motherhood or a satisfying workout.
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- Written by: Staff
- 17371 Views
Studies have shown that mindfulness can improve your sex life by increasing arousal, reducing sexual pain, lowering judgement, improving relationship satisfaction, and improving self esteem. Those of you who have had sessions with me in the clinic have most definitely practiced some forms of mindfulneses meditation with me, as it helps one increase connection between the brain and body, reduce anxiety, and downregulate the nervous system.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness can be defined as an open or a receptive attention to and awareness of what is taking place, both internally and externally, in the present moment (Barnes et al., 2007).
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 5932 Views
Mindfulness Is More Than A Mindset
From bullet journals to hot yoga, and five minute breathing exercises to weekend meditation retreats, mindfulness is the hashtag-goals wellness buzzword of the moment… and rightly so. It’s hard to argue with all the documented health benefits of being fully present in your activities and relationships.
But is mindfulness a magic cure for painful sex? That’s what many of my patients have been told by well-meaning friends, partners, and even medical practitioners and professional counselors. And I’ll tell you what I tell them:
The pain isn’t in your head; it’s in your muscles. It’s in your nervous system. It’s a complex interplay of the two in many cases.
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- Written by: Staff
- 3898 Views
Physical Activity has Psychological and Physical Benefits
Studies have shown that physical activity has many physical and psychological benefits. Staying physically active can increase happiness (Wang et al., 2012), improve health (Lee and Skerrett, 2001), and enhance quality of life (Penedo and Dahn, 2005).
Getting Started with a Problem Can Be Hard but Mindfulness Can Help
Dishman and Buckworth (1996) found that it is common for adults to quit an exercise program within the first 6 months of starting it, which decreases the chance for folks to fully receive the benefits of an exercise program. One factor that has been identified as helping people stick with an exercise program is satisfaction with physical activity.
In 2016 Tsafou et al. (2016) found that a mindfulness practice while you are exercising can increase
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- Written by: Staff
- 23170 Views
Cycling has become an increasingly popular mode of exercise and transportation, and before COVID-19 cycling classes were very popular.
Now with many cities under shelter in place ordinances, folks are dusting off their bicycles and riding the streets for exercise.
There are many health benefits to cycling, including improved cardiovascular health, better weight control, and decreased risk of breast cancer in women (Greenberg, 2019).
Despite all these amazing health benefits (I, myself am an avid bicyclist), you can ask almost anyone who has ridden a bike- the seats can get kind of uncomfortable after prolonged periods of time. And for some, issues worse than discomfort can arise: genital numbness, genital pain, nerve conduction issues, and sexual dysfunction. Through the years there has been some research that has linked bicycle riding, genital pain and genital numbness, and sexual dysfunction in both sexes. In fact, we’ve explored how rider/seat positioning on your bicycle can exacerbate nerve and orthopedic issues in past blogs.
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- Written by: Staff
- 4447 Views
A 2019 study by Towe et al., found that certain medical issues including metabolic syndrome, obesity, and eating disorders have an effect on female sexuality. The study also found evidence that incorporating of healthy dietary patterns into everyday life may positively influence female sexuality.
Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity May Cause Female Sexual Dysfunction
According to the Mayo Clinic, Metabolic Syndrome is a “cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Metabolic syndrome includes high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels. The syndrome increases a person's risk for heart attack and stroke.” Those with Metabolic Syndrome often have apple or pear shaped bodies.
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- Written by: Staff
- 80595 Views
When it Comes to Sex With a Hip Impingement, Position Really Does Matter
It's no surprise that if you recently had hip surgery - or have an ongoing hip issue - that your sex life could suffer. Read on for some recommendations.
What is Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) Syndrome?
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome is a disorder of the hip that typically affects young adults. It is the result of an abnormal contact between the greater trochanter of the femur (thigh bone) and the acetabulum (the socket).
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- Written by: Staff
- 12382 Views
Manual Therapy Skills are an Often Overlooked Aspect of Physical Therapy
In is well documented in journals such as the International Urogynecology Journal and Harvard Medical School that patients see positive outcomes when they receive treatment with trained pelvic floor therapists. One of the most valued skills of a trained pelvic floor therapist is their manual therapy skills.
What is Manual Therapy?
Manual therapy is a clinical treatment approach using skilled, specific hands-on techniques to diagnose and treat soft tissues of the body. Manual therapy is used in a wide variety of rehabilitation settings, on all parts of the body.
