blog category nick morrison FHnnjk1Yj7Y unsplash

The Femina Physical Therapy Blog

Featuring original articles by our staff about current events and trends

Explore our insightful blog articles on pelvic health, where we delve into essential topics that empower and educate. From understanding pelvic floor disorders to strategies for conquering infertility, our content is designed for those seeking knowledge and support. We discuss the latest research, expert advice, and practical tips to enhance your well-being and foster a deeper connection to your body.

Featured From the Blog:

Why a Multidisciplinary Team is Best for Treatment of Bloating and Abdominal Distension

Bloating and Abdominal Distension Often Benefit Greatly from Multidisciplinary Treatment

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!

Bloating is the sensation of excess abdominal gas or a feeling of being distended without obvious visible abdominal distension. Some people have a feeling of fullness or discomfort in the upper abdominal area. Abdominal distension is the visible increase in abdominal girth. A multidisciplinary treatment team of primary care physicians (PCPs), gastroenterologists, dieticians/ nutritionists, and physical therapists is ideal to help manage these symptoms and find the root cause. For example, symptoms of bloating and abdominal distension affect 66 - 90% diagnosed with IBS. Getting the proper diagnosis can help direct the best treatment options for you.

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!

Therapeutic Breast Massage in Lactation (TBML)

Therapeutic Breast Massage in Lactation | Image Courtesy of Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz via Unsplash

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!

Details: Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT; Published: 08 February 2022; Last Updated: 23 February 2022; 12500 Views

Vaginal Birth Ruin Your Sex Life? | Image Courtesy of Mulyadi via Unsplash — Postpartum Sex | Image Courtesy of Mulyadi via Unsplash

Are You Wondering "Can A Vaginal Birth Ruin Your Sex Life?"

Medically, the answer is a resounding ‘no’… but postpartum sex is still an understandable concern for most pregnant women, especially in a digital age where whispered rumors have given way to detailed stories of difficult birth experiences splashed across social media pages.

In the greater debate over vaginal birth vs. C-section, the real issue on the minds of many expectant mothers is often whether one mode of delivery is somehow better than the other. It’s a complex question; but a group of researchers in Ontario, Canada recently attempted to answer the ‘sex after baby’ part of it. What they found out surprised even them; and shed some important light on the bigger question as well.

Researchers Studying the Impact of Vaginal Childbirth versus Cesarean on Postpartum Sex Find...

Details: Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT; Published: 01 February 2022; Last Updated: 15 March 2022; 6354 Views

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction | Image Courtesy of Le Minh Phuong via Unsplash

First some facts about pelvic floor dysfunction:

Nearly one in two women experience painful sex.
One in three women suffers from urinary incontinence.
40% of all women and 50% of childbearing women have pelvic organ prolapse.

Because I’m a fan of scientific data, this isn’t the first time you’ve seen the truth by the numbers in this space.

Rarely, though, do I get to talk about a ‘study of many studies’ like the one published in Sexual Medicine Reviews.

Details: Written by: Staff; Published: 25 January 2022; Last Updated: 17 June 2022; 7121 Views

A Pelvic Floor PT Can Assist With Cervical Cancer and Recovery

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer affecting women worldwide.

Luckily there are many wonderful treatments that can stop the cancer, either completely or from progressing further. However, the treatments do come with some unwanted side effects. But there is help and having a pelvic floor physical therapist added to your ervical cancer support team can truly guide you along the way.

Common Cervical Cancer Treatments

Some common treatments are pelvic external beam radiotherapy and/or brachytherapy, which unfortunately can adversely affect women’s sexual functioning and quality of life. Radiotherapy especially can cause vaginal stenosis, which is narrowing of the vaginal canal. This is due to radiation effects of collagen deposition, loss of elasticity in the vaginal tissue, and atrophic changes of the mucosa. Unfortunately, 88% of women after radiation will develop vaginal stenosis. As you can imagine, narrowing of the vaginal canal can impede women’s ability to tolerate penetrative sexual intercourse or gynecologic exams, for example.

Details: Written by: Staff; Published: 17 January 2022; Last Updated: 24 June 2024; 3146 Views

Coping with Restless Leg Syndrome | Image Courtesy of Yuris Alhumaydy via Unsplash

Restless Legs Syndrome (or RLS)

Restless legs syndrome (or RLS) is a condition where there are uncontrollable urges to move limbs (mostly in the legs, but sometimes in the arms) that follows a circadian pattern, namely evenings/overnight when resting.

The urges usually come with unpleasant sensations such as tingling, burning, itching, or otherwise pain. Usually, it can be alleviated by movement, but as you can imagine, it can be debilitating and impair sleep, and thus the quality of life. It is common to experience mood swings, anxiety, and depression.

It is estimated that about 3.9-14.3% of the general population suffers from RLS. It is the most common movement disorder in pregnant women. There is either primary (idiopathic) RLS, or secondary (acquired) RLS due to pregnancy, renal pathologies, diabetes, hypertension, and other metabolic conditions. The two most common risk factors for RLS are iron deficiency and kidney disease.

Details: Written by: Staff; Published: 10 January 2022; Last Updated: 24 June 2024; 7825 Views

Postpartum Recovery pt. 2 Diastasis Rectus Abdominis | Image Courtesy of Katherine Hood via Unsplash

What is DRA?

Diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA, sometimes referred to as Diastasis Recti) is a distortion or thinning of the linea alba which is the midline of the abdomen that connects left and right rectus abdominis muscles together.

Although DRA can be found in both genders, it is more commonly found in females, and more common during pregnancy (66-100% of women have DRA during their third trimester) and can persist through their postpartum periods. About 33% of women continue to have a DRA a year postpartum. It can look like a gap in the midline, “doming” in the midline, or it can even appear as a “pooch,” in the lower abdomen.

Why Do We Care?

The abdominal muscles and linea alba assist in trunk movement, posture, lumbopelvic stability, breathing, and abdominal organ support. As you can imagine, it can affect those functions when a DRA is present. As movement specialists, we want to make sure you are engaging the muscles and tensing up the fascia of the linea alba appropriately to help prevent low back pain, pelvic girdle pain, and activity-related injuries.

Details: Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT; Published: 03 January 2022; Last Updated: 24 June 2024; 5771 Views

Safely Returning to Activity and Sport Postpartum

Postpartum Recovery Part 1

Most women get the clearance after their 6 week check-up for sex and exercise, YAY! But, really? How? What does that mean? There are no guidelines on how to return to activity in a safe, leak-free and pain-free manner.

Between 6 and 31% of postpartum women experience urinary incontinence. In addition, 66% of those who experience urinary incontinence during pregnancy and/or their first 3 months of postpartum continued to experience incontinence even at 12 years after birth! As you can see, it may be common, but it is certainly not normal!

Details: Written by: Staff; Published: 21 December 2021; Last Updated: 28 March 2022; 6254 Views

Breast Cancer Surgery and Physical Therapy - An Overview

There are an estimated 2 million breast cancer survivors in the United States and it is the most common form of cancer among women.^{2, 3}Following breast cancer surgery many patients experience neck, arm, and shoulder impairments. The most common complaints after surgery are restrictions in shoulder range of motion, pain, or a change in sensations of the arm and lymphedema.¹

Common Side Effects After Breast Cancer Surgery

Restricted Arm Mobility

Women that experience restrictions in arm mobility following surgery report a lower quality of life and higher psychological distress.⁶ It is estimated that anywhere between 3.8–73% of women will have restricted arm motion following surgery.¹⁰

Details: Written by: Staff; Published: 08 December 2021; Last Updated: 29 November 2022; 10388 Views

what is IC Interstitial Cystitis | IC & Symptoms | Image Courtesy of Marek Piwnicki via Unsplash — Interstitial Cystitis | IC & Symptoms | Image Courtesy of Marek Piwnicki via Unsplash

What is IC or Interstitial cystitis?

IC is also known as bladder pain syndrome or painful bladder syndrome and is a debilitating condition that significantly affects the quality of life of patients living with it.

Many patients with IC have other overlapping pain conditions such as Dyspareunia (pain with intercourse). 88% of patients with IC had at least one symptoms of sexual dysfunction (lack of sexual interest, can’t relax and enjoy sex, difficulty becoming sexually aroused and difficulty reaching orgasm)¹. Women with IC rated their sexual dysfunction as moderate to severe when compared to controls and reported increased pain with intercourse, decreased desire and decreased frequency of orgasm^5,6.

Page 14 of 31