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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:
Hormonal Birth Control and Vulvodynia - Part 1: Combined Hormonal Methods
We Take a Look at Combined Methods of Hormonal Birth Control and Vulvodynia
In this three part series, we will explore the effects of hormonal contraceptive methods and their relationship with vulvodynia.
What is Hormonal Birth Control?
Hormonal birth control methods, such as birth control pills, patches, injections, rings and hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs), work by altering hormone levels in the body to prevent pregnancy. Hormonal contraceptives fall into two categories: combined, meaning they contain both estrogen and progestin (think the pill, patch, or ring), or contain progestin only (think progestin only pill or “POP”, arm implant, IUDs, or injections). While the primary intent of these drugs are for contraception, they are also widely prescribed for other common issues such as: mood imbalance related to periods, skin issues, irregular periods, and painful periods.
Read more: Hormonal Birth Control and Vulvodynia - Part 1: Combined...
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.
Read more: Introducing The Origin Fund - Helping Women in Need
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!
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- Written by: Staff
- 4634 Views
On May 6, communities across the country including downtown LA gathered for the March for Moms to bring about changes to improve the health of mothers and birthing families in the United States. Femina Physical Therapy was there to join the national movement to address the maternal health crisis in our country. It was a wonderful day connecting with the community of concerned parents, community members, and health practitioners.
Together, we were able to call attention to issues affecting moms in Los Angeles.
Read more: Femina Physical Therapy and the March for Moms in Los...
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 7873 Views
Redefining Postpartum Care in the “Fourth Trimester” by Utilizing Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Last month the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) updated their position on postpartum care in the “fourth trimester” - the first 12 weeks after your baby is born. This is such a huge step for better healthcare and support for women after delivery. In other countries (France, Belgium, Northern Ireland and other European countries), postpartum physical therapy is a routine referral for women both in the hospital and for ongoing support when they are discharged.
The statement updates the previous recommendation of a 6 week visit, and instead supports a paradigm shift of postpartum care that not only adds contact with their Ob-Gyns within the first 3 weeks of delivery, but also address the need for ongoing care:
Read more: Redefining Postpartum Care in the “Fourth Trimester”
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- Written by: Staff
- 14723 Views
Tips For Scar Management and Desensitization After C-Section
Also After Hysterectomy and Other Laparoscopic Procedures
After delivery via cesarean section, hysterectomy or other laparoscopic procedure, there will be an incision site that you will have to manage according to the directions of your doctors and nurses to keep the site from becoming infected. Although the incision site will close after about 2-3 weeks, scar tissue will continue to form. It is important to begin scar massage and desensitization techniques to help prevent scar tissue build up, puckering, and ongoing pain.
Managing Scar Tissue
A trained physical therapist can perform soft tissue mobilization and other modalities such as cold laser over the scar site. As a part of your treatment, your therapist will teach you skills to manage the scars at home for the following benefits:
Read more: Scar Management and Desensitization After C-Section,...
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- Written by: Staff
- 22883 Views
What Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy after Cesarean Section Can Do For You
Physical therapy after cesarean section can help you in your recovery by giving you skills to regain optimal body function and help you get back on your feet, doing the activities you value in addition to taking care of your new little one. In this article we review some ways that a therapist at Femina Physical Therapy can help you through your recovery. You can see a trained therapist as soon as you have the energy to do so.
Scar management and desensitization
Pelvic floor physical therapists are trained in soft tissue mobilization techniques to help soften and flatten scar tissue after your cesarean incision is healed. As a part of your treatment, your therapist will teach you techniques such as scar massage to help prevent scar tissue build up and puckering. Check out our full article on scar tissue management here.
Read more: Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy after Cesarean Section
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- Written by: Staff
- 26809 Views
Self Care After Cesarean Section, With an Emphasis on Baby Care Ergonomics
Today we talk about ergonomics with baby care after a cesarean section. It’s important for all new parents to conserve energy and protect their own bodies while adjusting to the care of a new baby, especially those who have had a cesarean. Today we will discuss body mechanics of picking up a baby, breastfeeding, and the like after a C-Section.
Lifting Restrictions
As a cesarean section is an abdominal surgery, your doctor will likely advise you to not lift anything over 8-10 lbs, depending on the doctor as well as the details regarding your cesarean and your personal health. Lifting restrictions typically last anywhere from 6-8 weeks. This may prevent you from lifting household items heavier than a gallon of milk… That means no carrying baskets of laundry or heavy bags of groceries.
Read more: Ergonomics with Baby Care and Self Care After Cesarean...
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- Written by: Staff
- 14791 Views
Learn To Do Cesarean Section Early Recovery Exercises
It’s Cesarean Section Awareness Month!
Trauma to the body is something all who give birth to a baby experience. With those who deliver via cesarean (c-section), there is the added trauma of an abdominal surgery in addition to the trauma of labor and delivery.
Today we will talk about post-delivery rehabilitation, with an emphasis for those who have had a cesarean. This information is all about self care to recover birth and is useful for ALL new mothers, whether delivering via the vaginal canal or a cesarean section.
In an upcoming blog post this month, we will discuss body mechanics of picking up a baby, breastfeeding, and the like after a C-Section.
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- Written by: Staff
- 12109 Views
Can pelvic floor therapy for bowel urgency and incontinence help you?
It's National IBS Month and our series on bowel health continues. Today’s article is for those with irritable bowel syndrome that tends towards softer stools and diarrhea (IBS-D). Most people have experienced fecal urgency at least once in their lives- the experience of rushing to the bathroom to have a bowel movement or having an accident.
Although management of conditions like irritable bowel syndrome should be multidisciplinary, pelvic floor therapy can play a role in regaining control of your bowel movements instead of allowing them control you.
Read more: Pelvic Floor Therapy for Bowel Urgency and Incontinence
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- Written by: Staff
- 11148 Views
Dealing With Chronic Constipation? Read On.
Most people experience constipation from time to time. Constipation isn’t just the inability to have a bowel movement, it includes the difficulty associated with bowel movements. Travel, inactivity, illness, and certain over the counter medications taken “as needed” commonly result in short-term or acute constipation. Constipation lasting longer than three months is considered chronic constipation. Chronic constipation should be treated by a doctor to prevent health complications.
Clear communication is essential to working with doctors, but the general public often has only a rudimentary understanding of medical terms - including constipation. There is often a gap between the physician and the patient’s perception of constipation which can lead to confusion. (1, 2, 7, 10) A study of people who thought they had constipation showed that only a third actually fit the criteria for constipation, while the rest actually had Irritable Bowel Syndrome or other gastrointestinal disorders. (9) So what are the criteria for constipation?
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 7501 Views
A Conversation about Female Sexual Health & Pelvic Pain
with Screening of Animated Short Film "Tightly Wound"
Femina PT, the Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center, and the Milli, the first Expandable Dilator, are teaming up to bring Shelby Hadden and her animated short film about vaginismus, Tightly Wound, to Los Angeles on Saturday, May 19th! Many of you may know of Shelby and her past struggles with pelvic pain. Her journey getting diagnosed and treated combined with her skills as a filmmaker inspired her to create Tightly Wound to help raise awareness about vaginismus and pelvic pain, helping women get diagnosed and get the help they need.
Read more: You Are Invited to Becoming unWOUND: A Conversation About...
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 7084 Views
Tips for Teaching Your Daughters About Endometriosis
Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women and girls. The delay for diagnosis averages 7 years! How early should you start the discussion about this debilitating condition? As a pelvic health physical therapist, I believe this conversation should start not long after your daughter begins menstruating. As moms, we need to be aware about what is “normal” versus “abnormal”. We only know if we ask them questions. It can be a scary time for girls when they first get their periods, and it can be devastating if there is a lot of pain. We need to be a strong support system for our daughters, but also educate them on the norms.
Is it normal to have cramping? Yes. It’s the uterus contracting to shed the lining of the uterus. Mild to moderate cramping can often be helped with Motrin, heating pads, gentle exercise and adequate hydration. Be careful to not dismiss her if she comes to you complaining of severe cramping during her cycle. If her pain is so severe she is vomiting, please do not accuse her of being “too dramatic”. I’ve heard these stories in my office from my patients as they relay their history and how long they complained of severe pain, only to be accused of playing up their pain too much. It only delayed their treatments and added psychological factors as they were made to feel that their pain wasn’t that bad or worse…not real at all.
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- Written by: Staff
- 6489 Views
How Does Endometriosis Affect Fertility and Pregnancy?
As we continue our series about endometriosis, today we address how endo might affect fertility and pregnancy.
Endometriosis Does Not Equal Infertility
Having endometriosis does not automatically mean that you will never have children. What it does mean is that you might have more trouble getting pregnant. About 30% of those with endometriosis have trouble with fertility and struggle to get pregnant. Others with endometriosis have no difficulty getting pregnant, or eventually get pregnant after utilizing medical interventions including surgery to remove endometrial growths, or reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization to help with conception.
Read more: Does Endometriosis Affect Fertility and Pregnancy?
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- Written by: Staff
- 48899 Views
Yoga Poses to Ease Pelvic Pain
Also Effective for Endometriosis Pain
1 in 10 women have endometriosis and experience different forms of pain—pain with urination, pain with bowel movements, painful periods, pelvic pain, ovulation pain, painful sex, abdominal pain, and nerve pain. The Office on Women’s Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates 5 million American women are affected by endometriosis.
As we covered in a previous blog post, endometriosis is a condition where endometrial-like tissue grows outside of the uterus (endometrial tissue is tissue that usually tissu grows inside of the uterus). Endometrial-like tissue can implant on the surface of organs and structures including the ovaries, bladder, rectum, and along the walls of the abdomen and pelvis. These tissues can cause inflammation and pain to develop throughout the abdomen and pelvic cavity.
Read more: Yoga Poses to Ease Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis Pain
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- Written by: Staff
- 10651 Views
What is pelvic floor physical therapy?
When you are suffering from neck or shoulder pain, it is common to go see a physical therapist to help correct any issues with like alignment, movement, strength, and flexibility to reduce pain and improve function. Pelvic floor physical therapy is performed by physical therapists with advanced training to help correct those same issues in the pelvis, lower extremities, spine, and abdomen.
Pelvic floor muscles: What are they?
The inside of the pelvis is lined with muscles referred to as the pelvic floor muscles, these muscles are made of the same types of muscle tissue as other parts of the body, like the neck or shoulder. Similarly, the pelvis is home to ligaments, nerves, fascia, and bones, just like other parts of the body. Pelvic floor physical therapy utilizes an inegrative approach to get all of these functions working together as they should.
Read more: What is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy and How Can it Help...
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- Written by: Staff
- 3333 Views
The Common Links Between Endometriosis and Painful Sex
Pain, fatigue, and other symptoms associated with endometriosis can affect quality of life, including sexual health and happiness. In fact, a study published last year found that patients with endometriosis have more than twice the sexual dysfunction as compared to women without the disease (Fairbanks, Abdo, Baracat & Podgaec, 2017). Below is a list of common sexual health problems associated with endo and some strategies to help:
Diminished sexual desire
Some people with endometriosis report that pain and fatigue can be better or worse at certain times of the month. Keeping a diary can help identify patterns of pain associated with the cycle. Estrogen levels peak during ovulation, usually day 12-15 of the cycle, leading to higher pain levels for some with endometriosis. Knowing how your body feels during different parts of the cycle can help you make decisions about when to engage or avoid in sex to manage your pain.
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- Written by: Staff
- 5481 Views
Yoga and Pregnancy Together Can Increase Your Quality of Life During Pregnancy and After
We offer a yoga therapy program tailored specifically to pregnancy at Femina/Fusion Wellness PT. At the end of this article is a link to more blog posts highlighting how yoga can mesh well with issues like pelvic floor dysfunction, pelvic pain, and pregnancy.
Why Integrate Yoga and Pregnancy?
Modified, gentle, and restorative yoga practices can be a fantastic addition to physical activity during pregnancy. Yoga can also give an opportunity for mamas to listen to their bodies, gain stamina and the courage needed for labor and motherhood. Whether you start practicing yoga after you get pregnant, or you already have a practice, yoga also helps you to consciously connect to the process of nature and your baby and prepare you for your birth.
Read more: Yoga and Pregnancy | Increase Quality of Life During and...
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- Written by: Staff
- 10748 Views
Happy National Condom Week!
Are you suffering from recurrent pelvic inflammatory disease and/or chronic pelvic pain? Condoms may help reduce the risk.
Condoms are an effective barrier method of contraception (82% effective, according to the CDC) and reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including HIV, gonorrhea, and Chlamydia.
There are other benefits. Regular condom use with intercourse may also help the risk of recurrent Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP), and Infertility. According to the 2004 study by Ness, Randall, Richter, et al., consistent condom users had 50% reduced risk for recurrence of PID, 30% reduced risk for chronic pelvic pain, and 60% reduced risk for infertility due to PID.
Read more: Condoms May Help Reduce Risk for Recurrent Pelvic...
