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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: Staff
- 3336 Views
Are You Thinking of Working with a Doula?
Here are some of the benefits
Being a pelvic floor physical therapist, I work with pregnant and postpartum women almost daily. Not having birthed any children yet and currently pregnant, I was curious about the doula process both professionally and personally. So, I attended a wonderful birth doula training program and learned a ton about what working with a doula is all about.
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 2857 Views
Are There Non-Surgical Treatments for Pelvic Organ Prolapse?
That constant heavy feeling in your pelvic area. That embarrassing urine leakage. That bulge ‘down there’.
It took a while, but you found the courage to talk to your doctor about your symptoms. (Good for you!) Now you know your condition has a name – pelvic organ prolapse – and a treatment. But is surgery really the best option?
Research estimates that 50% of all women who give birth will develop pelvic organ prolapse at some point in life; but while pregnancy and childbirth top the list of risk factors, the condition usually develops over time from a combination of factors that can also include anything from frequent strenuous gym workouts to smoking to menopause (and even genetics).
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 4031 Views
The medical community has a new acronym for painful sex - GPPD
New data on self-compassion and emotion regulation that many women who suffer from it may never have considered.
First, let’s take a look at that new name - genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPPD). That’s a medical mouthful, I know; but it’s actually a helpful attempt to simplify diagnosis by combining two similar disorders under one treatment heading. Dyspareunia is pain with sexual activity; vaginismus is the involuntary contraction of muscles in the pelvic floor that often cause that pain. GPPD recognizes them as essentially the same problem – recurrent or persistent pain in the genital area associated with intercourse. And it’s a common one; the study I’m reviewing in this article says,
Sexual pain is among the most common complaints in women who seek for help in clinical settings.”
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 2678 Views
What are Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Urinary Incontinence?
What is the biggest risk factor for both conditions? And how can you tell if you have them?
Not sure? You’re not alone. In fact, one research study found women actually know more about erectile dysfunction than they do about pelvic organ prolapse! While pharmaceutical company advertising bias may be to blame for part of that equation, one of the largest surveys of pregnant women and new moms ever conducted on the subject (by a team of medical experts in New England) reveals women’s healthcare providers consistently miss their biggest window of opportunity to educate patients about these conditions and offer treatment strategies that work.
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- Written by: Staff
- 4769 Views
Did You Know That There Are Non-Surgical Treatments for Provoked Vulvodynia (PVD)?
Provoked Vulvodynia affects approximately 10% of women
PVD is known as a chronic overlapping pain condition with endometriosis... While there are pharmacologic and surgical options, there are also other more conservative non-surgical treatments for provoked vulvodynia.
Provoked vulvodynia (PVD) is a chronic pain condition characterized by pain in the vulva when provoked by touch such as a tampon, speculum, clothing and/or sexual penetration. This condition affects approximately 10% in young women and can be truly debilitating. The etiology of PVD is complex and includes a combination of biologic and psychological factors. Other factors that may contribute to PVD are neural proliferation (an increase in nerve endings in the area), pelvic floor dysfunction, hormonal imbalances, recurrent infections, inflammation, high urinary oxalate levels and other psychological factors.
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- Written by: Staff
- 2961 Views
May is Osteoporosis Awareness Month.
Did you know that Physical Therapists are an essential member of your interdisciplinary care team?
With life expectancy increasing it is becoming more evident that bone health and fall prevention are key to a good quality of life. Osteoporosis is defined as a decrease in bone mass or a change in the structure of the bone causing the bone to be more fragile.1 If the bone is weak there is a higher chance of a fracture (bone break). The most common areas of fractures are the hip, spine, forearm, and humerus (upper arm bone). Osteoporosis causes more than 8.9 million fractures annually worldwide, affecting predominantly postmenopausal women. The probability of women, at menopause, of having an osteoporotic fracture exceeds that of breast cancer and the likelihood of a fracture is approximately 40%.2
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- Written by: Staff
- 4484 Views
All About the Importance of Pelvic Floor Stretches for Childbirth
**Talk to your physical therapist and healthcare team about specific guidelines for you**
Are you ready for the big day? Have you thought about how you will prep for your upcoming delivery? In this article, we’ll review four pelvic floor stretches for childbirth that may be appropriate, but recommend you consult with your childbirth healthcare professional to confirm if these are right for you.
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- Written by: Staff
- 4008 Views
Let's Talk Pilates for Urinary Incontinence and Low Back Pain
"Physical Therapy is the first line of treatment for any type of urinary incontinence."
Incontinence, or unwanted urinary leakage, is commonly experienced by women, especially during pregnancy and postpartum. Experts often state, and research supports, it occurs in 1 in 3 women. While this may be common, it is not normal, and it is treatable! Physical therapy is the first line of treatment for any type of urinary incontinence. In fact, pelvic floor muscle training for women with stress urinary incontinence is six times more likely to result in a cure or a significant improvement. For all other types, women are twice as likely to report significant improvement or completely resolve their urinary incontinence. As you can imagine, getting help can dramatically improve their quality of life.
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- Written by: Kasia Gondek, PT, DPT, CSCS
- 3488 Views
A very important component of any running program, ranging from a 5 km (3.1 miles) race to an ultra-marathon (anything more than a marathon which is 26.2 miles), is adequate recovery.
Many people neglect this portion of their training because it doesn’t involve getting sweaty or doing high intensity intervals or weights. However, building in a solid recovery routine is crucial to helping your body bounce back after training as quickly as possible. A good recovery routine also helps prevent injury, decreased immune system function, and muscle mass loss. A recovery routine encompasses a cool-down activity, nutrition, and exercises like hatha-based yoga, foam rolling, and/or stretching the major muscle groups used during your workout. Although not discussed here, getting good quality sleep is critical to recovery as well!
My Post-run Recovery Routine:
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- Written by: Staff
- 3563 Views
How do you know if you have lower urinary tract symptoms and an overactive bladder?
Over ¾ of women report that they have experienced one or more Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS)1. More than ½ of American women report urinary incontinence (UI), and approximately 17% of women over the age of 18 years report symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB)2, 3. It is also believed that most women underreport their bladder symptoms due to embarrassment and false notions that it is a normal part of aging4, 5, 6.
Lower urinary tract symptoms include incomplete bladder emptying, urine dribbling after you finish urination, persistent drip of urine after completion of urination and/or urinary incontinence. Overactive bladder symptoms consist of urinary urgency (the need to get to a restroom quickly), with or without incontinence, urinary frequency, and frequent nighttime urination (waking more than 1x/night). These symptoms can negatively impact a woman's life. One study found that women with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms reported several impacts on quality of life including decreased sleep, work productivity, and physical/sexual activity7.
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- Written by: Kasia Gondek, PT, DPT, CSCS
- 3558 Views
Road to Boston Marathon Part 2: Exercising at Home or in the Gym
10 Exercises to Improve Strength, Conditioning, and Balance
Leading up to the Boston Marathon, I have been incorporating these 10 key exercises into my weekly routine (3x/week) to keep my body strong and balanced. Videos of these exercises are posted below. These exercises target the key muscle groups used by runners. These are for educational purposes, not meant to treat medical conditions nor supplement medical advice.
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- Written by: Kasia Gondek, PT, DPT, CSCS
- 4620 Views
Self-Care and Self-Management Strategies to Combat Endometriosis Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Since March of 2020, people living with endometriosis symptoms are facing tough challenges and barriers due to the Covid-19 pandemic: canceled surgeries, canceled appointments with family physicians, gynecologists, fertility specialists and/or other allied healthcare providers, postponed in-office assessments and visits, and changes in overall work environment and social activities. This can worsen feelings of isolation, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and have a negative impact on self-reported pain and disability levels during this time.
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- Written by: Staff
- 4627 Views
Endometriosis and Sexual Function Require a Specialized Approach
Endometriosis is a global disease affecting 5-15% of women during their reproductive years. It is characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside of the uterus which can trigger a local inflammatory response and can have a significant impact on patients’ quality of life.
One such domain of quality of life that is often affected is the correlation between endometriosis and sexual function. The DSM-V defines sexual dysfunction as a clinically significant disturbance in a person’s ability to respond sexually or to experience pleasure and includes pelvic pain, penetration disorders, lack of sexual interest, and/or arousal and orgasm disorders. Unfortunately, it is common, as approximately 40% of women with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain suffer from sexual dysfunction.
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- Written by: Kasia Gondek, PT, DPT, CSCS
- 2807 Views
Road to Boston Marathon Part 1
A Tribute to the First Female Runners
On April 18, 2022 I am excited and grateful to be able to run the historic and prestigious Boston Marathon! As a physical therapist at Fusion Wellness /Femina Physical Therapy and avid long-distance runner for over 20 years, I’m excited to share my training journey with you leading up to the race. This race holds a special place in the hearts of long-distance runners because you must run a qualifying race with a qualifying time. Females ages 18-34 must run 3 hours 30 minutes or better, and males ages 18-34 must run 3 hours flat or better.
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- Written by: Staff
- 3075 Views
Postpartum Recovery Series Part 5
Managing Urinary Incontinence After Childbirth
Urinary incontinence is the unwanted leakage of urine, also known as accidental bladder leakage. There are a few main types. Stress urinary incontinence is leakage associated with activities, such as lifting, exercising, coughing, sneezing, or laughing. Urge urinary incontinence is leakage associated with the urge and people often experience leaking on the way to the toilet. There is also mixed incontinence which is a combination of the two types. Continence is managed by the complex interaction of bladder physiology, central nervous system, and the pelvic floor muscles. When there is dysfunction in any part of the three systems, incontinence may occur.
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- Written by: Staff
- 3995 Views
Did You Know Physical Therapy Can Help Endometriosis?
What is the link between endometriosis and painful sex?
Endometriosis is a global disease affecting 5-15% of women during their reproductive years. It is characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside of the uterus which can trigger a local inflammatory response and can have a significant impact on patients’ quality of life.
Sexual Function
One such domain of quality of life that is often affected is sexual function. The DSM-V1 defines sexual dysfunction as a clinically siginifcant disturbance in a person’s ability to respond sexually or to experience pleasure and includes: pelvic pain, penetration disorders, lack of sexual interest and/or arousal and orgasm disorders. Unfortunately, it is common, as approximately 40% of women with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain suffer from sexual dysfunction.
