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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:

Vulvovaginal Moisturizers: Who Needs One & Choosing the Right One

Vulvovaginal Moisturizers: Effective Hydration and Relief | Image Courtesy of Averie Woodward via Unsplash

Choosing the Right Vulvovaginal Moisturizer

Assuming you need one, make sure it's got the right ingredient list

There are many reasons why those born with female anatomy may require the use of a vulvovaginal moisturizer throughout their lifetime. As you age, the vaginal and vulvar tissues tend to become drier and less elastic. This change is typically seen around the time one goes through menopause due to the drop in estrogen that occurs. The vulvovaginal tissues are very sensitive to hormonal changes and estrogen is the hormone that controls vaginal lubrication, as well as tissue elasticity and thickness.

Understanding Relaxin: Why It Doesn’t Cause Pain in Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of significant physical and hormonal changes, and among the many hormones involved, Relaxin plays a crucial role. However, there’s a common misconception that Relaxin is responsible for pain during pregnancy. Let’s take a closer look at what Relaxin does and why it doesn’t directly cause pain.

What is Relaxin?

Relaxin is a regulatory hormone involved in growth, metabolism, and tissue remodeling after an injury to our bones, ligaments, muscles or tendons (Dehghan 2014). During pregnancy, Relaxin levels begin to increase in the first trimester to help the body prepare for childbirth by relaxing the ligaments in the pelvis and softening the cervix (Aldabe 2012, Daneau 2014). The ligaments of the pelvis will begin to relax around the 10th-12th week of pregnancy (Aldabe 2012). This process allows for greater flexibility in the pelvic area, facilitating delivery and accommodating the growing baby.

Running Mechanics and Pelvic Floor Health: The Impact of Footwear

Running Mechanics and Pelvic Floor Health | Image Courtesy of Dulcey Lima via Unsplash

Did You Know That Proper Footwear Can Improve Your Running Mechanics and Pelvic Floor Health?

How Do My Feet Impact My Pelvic Floor When I Run?

If you are a runner, you tend to look for ways to improve your running. If you’re thinking about starting up or returning to running, it can feel intimidating particularly if you have any symptoms related to pelvic floor dysfunction. This only complicates an exercise that, on the surface, seems fairly straight forward. There are some studies that have looked at how your feet can play a part in your pelvic floor muscle function while you run. And if you are looking to return to running postpartum, read on and also check out this article by one of our pelvic floor physical therapists.

Details: Written by: Staff; Published: 18 October 2021; Last Updated: 25 June 2024; 6807 Views

Delivery of the Placenta | Image Courtesy of João Paulo de Souza Oliveira via Unsplash

Third Stage of Childbirth: Delivery of the Placenta

You made it!

Now, at this point you have delivered your baby and your body’s hormones have shifted tremendously! You may feel overwhelming emotions of joy and exhaustion at the same time. Oxytocin, the bonding hormone, rises sharply to compensate for the drastic drop in estrogen and progesterone. You may find yourself shivering, and this is normal immediately post-giving birth and can last up to one hour.

Delivery of the Placenta

Details: Written by: Staff; Published: 15 October 2021; Last Updated: 05 January 2022; 13262 Views

Upright Labor Positions | Vaginal Childbirth Positioning Series | Image Courtesy of Jimmy Conover via Unsplash — Labor Positions | Vaginal Childbirth Positioning Series | Image Courtesy of Jimmy Conover via Unsplash

Upright Labor Positions for the Second Stage of Labor

If you missed part 1 in the vaginal childbirth positioning series, go back and read it here.

Childbirth/labor is quite an experience, and it can be scary waiting for the unknown. Being prepared, knowing, and being familiar with different options and labor positions is the best way to approach childbirth to help decrease as much anxiety should surprises arise.

This article will go over specific labor positions that help progress labor, and prevent perineal trauma.

As mentioned in Part 1: Pre-Birth article, it’s important to keep changing labor positions to help progress, preferably in different upright labor positions. As a reminder, the first stage is all about increasing the pelvic inlet to help guide the baby through the mid pelvis and finally towards the pelvic outlet/vaginal canal.

Details: Written by: Staff; Published: 08 October 2021; Last Updated: 05 January 2022; 7582 Views

Positioning for the Pre-Birth Stage of Labor

What to Expect and What to Focus On:

If you have been pregnant for many months now, it is time to get ready for your upcoming birth! Similar to a marathon, we need to train for childbirth to prepare the muscles and body for the big event. For this reason, it is a good idea to start practicing being in different positions either with movement or holding a position for a long time. The pre-birth stage of labor involves contractions to dilate and open the cervix. Once the cervix is fully dilated, the second stage includes the passive and active phases of the baby crowning and coming out of the vaginal canal. The third stage involves the delivery of the placenta. We will go over how to best support our bodies throughout your childbirth journey.

Positioning for the Stages of Labor

Practicing and knowing different positions during this first stage can be helpful when pain may escalate. Upright positioning such as: walking, standing, rocking back and forth, kneeling over birthing ball, leaning against wall, holding onto partner are just some of the many, many positions that can be helpful.

Details: Written by: Staff; Published: 30 September 2021; Last Updated: 17 June 2022; 7875 Views

Postpartum Pelvic Health Recovery Should Start Day 1.

Here are some tips to help you get your postpartum pelvic health (and general health) back on track:

This article focuses on 5 key techniques you can use to improve postpartum pelvic health. It covers diaphragmatic breathing to activate core muscles and kickstart lymphatic drainage, pelvic floor muscle coordination, posture, and the benefits of a pelvic floor evaluation by a physical therapist to begin improving postpartum pelvic health on day 1. It also provides detailed instructions and references scientific studies to provide further research.

Details: Written by: Staff; Published: 14 September 2021; Last Updated: 01 December 2022; 7578 Views

Interstitial Cystitis, Multimodal Treatments, and How Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Helps IC

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

The definition of IC from an international consensus is:

An unpleasant sensation (pain, pressure, discomfort) perceived to be related to the urinary bladder, associated with lower urinary tract symptoms of more than six weeks duration, in the absence of infection or other identifiable cause" (Hanno et al, 2009).

Interstitial cystitis affects 6-11% of women and 2–5% of men and increases with age from 1.7% under the age of 65 and up to 4.0% in women aged 80 years or older (Clemens et al., 2007 and Lifford et al., 2009). Patients that live with IC report that their quality of life is significantly impacted affecting their psychosocial, work-life, psychological well-being, personal relationships, and general health (Clemens et al., 2007). One important domain that is affected by IC is sexual function. 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 (Peters et al., 2007 and Tincello et al., 2005).

Details: Written by: Staff; Published: 09 September 2021; Last Updated: 06 January 2022; 6398 Views

Safe Sex During Covid | Image Courtesy of Jasmin Chew via Unsplash — Image Courtesy of Jasmin Chew via Unsplash | Safe Sex During Covid

Whether you're asking for a friend or for yourself, it's an important question these days.

Practicing social distancing and wearing a mask can make it quite difficult to have intimate relationships.

Through the last year and half, we have learned more about COVID-19 and each and every day new data helps us better understand this virus and how to practice safe sex during COVID.

How is the virus transmitted?

The virus spreads through infected saliva, mucus, or respiratory particles entering the eyes, nose, or mouth. This means it can be transmitted through kissing and close contact. Studies have also detected the virus in feces and in sperm in those infected (Diangeng et al., 2020). It is unknown at this point if the virus can be spread through sperm or feces. Educating yourself can be the key to safe sex during COVID-19.

Details: Written by: Staff; Published: 05 August 2021; Last Updated: 17 July 2023; 19319 Views

Levator Ani Avulsion - Injury during Childbirth — Image courtesy of Sharon McCutcheon via Unsplash | Levator Ani Avulsion, Injury During Childbirth

Levator Ani Avulsion: Understand your pelvic anatomy to better understand your injury

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles positioned like a hammock along our saddle region.

The group of muscles attach from our pubic bone on the inside and then to our lateral pelvic walls with a bundle of collagen fibers called the levator arch, and attach to the ischial spines (the inside of the sit bones) and tailbone on the back side. During vaginal childbirth, the pubococcygeus muscle, a group of pelvic floor muscles, stretches 3.26 times more than its normal length to make room for the coming baby in the vaginal canal! As you can imagine, this may result in some perineal tearing and/or levator ani avulsion.

Details: Written by: Staff; Published: 07 April 2021; Last Updated: 27 September 2021; 10268 Views

A recent study connects anxiety, urinary incontinence and depression in women

What is urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence refers to the loss of urine, out of your control. There is actually more than one kind of urinary incontinence: the two most common types of urinary incontinence that affect women are stress incontinence and urge incontinence (also called overactive bladder, or OAB).

Stress Incontinence: urine leaking with physical activity - sneezing, coughing, laughing, lifting, pushing/pulling, jumping.
Urge Incontinence: urine leakage that is coupled with urgency to go- leaking while you’re in line for the toilet, leaking/urgency when you’re parking your car in the driveway, putting the key in the door, fumbling with your pants, etc.
Mixed UI: a combination of stress and urge symptoms

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