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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:
Restorative 20 Minute Home Yoga Practice For Chronic Pelvic Pain
Yoga Practice For Chronic Pelvic Pain Can Be a Very Helpful Routine
As stated in my last blog post, yoga can be so beneficial as a pain management tool due to its ability to modulate the sympathetic nervous system3,4 which plays a large role in chronic pain. The exact mechanism of how yoga helps with chronic pain is still being studied, however, it is reasonable to believe the full body relaxation promoted by a yoga practice helps to decrease tension in key muscle groups- including the hips and pelvic floor which are often tight in people with chronic pelvic pain.
Currently, evidence has mostly focused on one hour long practices as an intervention, although there are some studies that report improvements in pain with shorter practices, such as the routine below. As with any mobility/stretching routine, benefits will be seen with more frequent practice, however even twice weekly can help decrease pain.
Read more: Restorative 20 Minute Home Yoga Practice For Chronic...
Vulvovaginal Moisturizers: Who Needs One & Choosing the Right One
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.
Read more: Vulvovaginal Moisturizers: Who Needs One & Choosing the...
Running Mechanics and Pelvic Floor Health: The Impact of Footwear
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.
Read more: Running Mechanics and Pelvic Floor Health: The Impact of...
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- Written by: Staff
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Simple Yoga Poses for Overcoming Foot Pain
Everyone experiences sore feet at some point during our busy lives. Here are a few simple yoga poses that you can do almost anywhere to relieve the pain of sore feet during the busy holiday season - or anytime for that matter!
Mountain Pose
Become aware of your feet and how you distribute your weight across them.
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 7521 Views
"Girls’ Night Out" Showcased InControl Medical's Fabulous Products
Hosted by Femina PT at LA's Big and Tiny
Three expert speakers chatted and answered questions on female pelvic and sexual health. One of our major sponsors was InControl Medical, the creators of one of my favorite product lines for urinary, bowel and sexual dysfunction. They have three different products that are focused on these basic necessities of female health and wellness.
Read more: InControl Medical's Products Featured at Girl's Night Out
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- Written by: Staff
- 12588 Views
Stressed from the holidays?
Try some gentle yoga poses that can be done anywhere you have a little floor space for your yoga mat.
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Cat/Cow
Cat/Cow is a dynamic yoga movement that links breath with movement. It flows through two poses that warm up the spine, relax low back muscles, hip muscles, pelvic floor muscles, and calms the nervous system.
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- Written by: Staff
- 5177 Views
The Holidays can be stressful!
Fortunately, you can help the mind and body relax with these handy techniques.
Deep Breathing
Stress and chronic pain can lead to short and shallow breathing which adds tension to the diaphragm, abdomen, and pelvic floor. Encouraging the body to breathe deeply will unravel the tension inside the body, often held in between the ribs, in the low back, neck, shoulders, belly, and pelvic floor.
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- Written by: Staff
- 7140 Views
Happy Veteran’s Day!
Today, we’d like to highlight an important women’s health issue for females serving in the military - a higher risk of developing both vaginal and urinary tract infections while deployed.
Females in the Military
According to the Defense Department, women now make up 20 percent of the Air Force, 19 percent of the Navy, 15 percent of the Army and almost 9 percent of the Marine Corps. As such a large population, increased awareness and advocacy is needed to ensure that our female troops are getting the best medical care possible.
Read more: Veteran’s Day | Deployed Military Womens Risk for Vaginal...
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- Written by: Staff
- 6020 Views
Gentle Yoga Basics for Easing Into Yoga Practice
We Offer Gentle Yoga classes at the Montrose office.
For those of you who may be curious about what Gentle Yoga is, here are some basics:
What is gentle yoga?
In general, gentle yoga is a way of practicing yoga in order to balance the body and calm the nervous system. You will explore a variety of poses to help you with flexibility and strength, all while using breath and movement to calm the mind.
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- Written by: Staff
- 8681 Views
November is Bladder Health Month, Which Means Preventing Urinary Incontinence!
Urinary incontinence is very common, affecting up to 1 in 3 women. Despite some common beliefs, leaking urine is not a normal part of aging and can be treated, especially with the help of a pelvic floor therapist. Today we’ll cover some common contributing factors that you can be mindful of to prevent urinary incontinence.
What is Urinary Incontinence?
Read more: Bladder Health Month | Preventing Urinary Incontinence
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- Written by: Staff
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Bladder Health Month and the Great American Smokeout - November 21st
In honor of both, today we are going to cover how smoking affects bladder health
Doctors have known for decades that smoking affects lung and heart health, greatly increasing risk of both lung cancer and heart disease. In recent research, they have been finding that smoking affects bladder health as well.
