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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:
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.
Read more: Understanding Relaxin: Why It Doesn’t Cause Pain in...
Lightning Crotch in Pregnancy: How You Can Start Recovering from SPD
What is symphysis pubis dysfunction (Lightning Crotch)?
Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), also known as pubic symphysis dysfunction, anterior pelvic girdle pain, or lightning crotch, is a common musculoskeletal condition that is experienced by pregnant women and can vary from minor discomfort to severely debilitating pain. It is typically characterized by discomfort in the front pelvic area that can radiate to the inner thighs and perineum (think where your pubic bone is).
Read more: Lightning Crotch in Pregnancy: How You Can Start...
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.
Read more: Why a Multidisciplinary Team is Best for Treatment of...
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- Written by: Staff
- 2968 Views
November is Bladder Health awareness month and we would like to discuss with our readers a significant update to the research regarding Interstitial Cystitis / Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS). In May 2022, the American Urological Association (AUA) released updated clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of IC/BPS. The purpose of the bladder pain syndrome treatment guideline is to provide a “clinical framework” for best practice regarding the management of patients who experience this. That includes what should and shouldn’t be done for patients, and how to avoid unnecessary or harmful interventions. The previous bladder pain syndrome treatment guidelines were released 8 years ago, in 2014.
What is Interstitial Cystitis / Bladder Pain Syndrome anyways?
Read more: An Update to Interstitial Cystitis / Bladder Pain Syndrome...
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- Written by: Sarina Karwande PT, DPT, CAFS
- 7482 Views
Muscles And Potty Training, What's the Connection?
Red flags to spot once your child starts potty training, how to prevent poor habits from forming, and when to see a pelvic floor physical therapist
Believe it or not children can show signs of a pelvic floor dysfunction like adults AND show similar signs and symptoms. Pelvic floor physical therapy is for anyone with a human body… these are the muscles that hold up our organs and prevent them from falling out (literally)! Pelvic floor dysfunctions can occur when the muscles of the pelvic floor have lost the ability to properly contact or fully relax.
Symptoms in children tend to become noticeable once potty training begins and have the potential to linger into their teens/ adulthood if gone untreated. It is important to pay attention to behaviors and poor habits that could indicate your child is having a tough time on the toilet.
Read more: What’s The Deal With Muscles And Potty Training? |...
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- Written by: Staff
- 4097 Views
More About Urinary Incontinence and Physical Therapy
Urinary Incontinence Under the Radar: Part 2
Welcome back for Part 2! November is Bladder Health Awareness month, and Femina PT would like to shine light on something that tends to go understated, unaddressed, brushed off as “normal”: urinary incontinence. In this blog series we’ve been addressing the various effects that urinary incontinence has on an individual’s life, and how conservative physical therapy treatment can help combat them. If you missed last week’s article, you can find it here.
Last week, we went over a lot of statistics. Urinary incontinence is without a doubt a healthcare crisis and places an enormous burden on the individual and their family members. Urinary incontinence, and the related sequelae, is expensive, isolating, and poses the risk of delirium, falls, pressure ulcers, and abuse.
Read more: Under the Radar: Urinary Incontinence and Physical Therapy...
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- Written by: Staff
- 16665 Views
Treatment Options for Tarlov Cyst: Physical Therapy
This article will go over what a Tarlov cyst is, what symptoms can arise from having a Tarlov cyst, how it is diagnosed, and common conservative and surgical treatments.
What is a Tarlov Cyst?
Tarlov cysts are sacral perineural cysts that consist of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) close to the dorsal root ganglion on our sacral spine (the triangle shaped bone that connects to our tailbone). Tarlov cysts are often incidental findings on MRI’s, meaning most people with no symptoms may have Tarlov cyst(s). Paulsen, et al, looked at 500 MRIs of the lumbosacral spine and found an incidental rate of 4.6%; of which 20% were symptomatic. Approximately 1% of the cysts are large enough to cause compression, thus requiring prompt treatment.
Read more: Tarlov Cyst: Physical Therapy and Treatment Options
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- Written by: Staff
- 4397 Views
Yes, Physical Therapy for Urinary Incontinence is a Thing
Urinary Incontinence Under the Radar: Part 1
November is Bladder Health Awareness month, and Femina PT would like to shine light on something that tends to go understated, unaddressed, brushed off as “normal”: urinary incontinence. This blog series focuses on the various effects that urinary incontinence (or UI) leaves on an individual’s life, and how conservative physical therapy treatment can help combat them. Lucky for you, reader, we love to talk about it.
The story goes like this - urinary incontinence is thought to be something expected with getting older, or something that occurs during pregnancy or as a result of delivery. Because of the embarrassment and shame that surrounds such issues, patients often don’t share these problems with their provider. Or worse, if they do share, they may be dismissed as their symptoms being a normal consequence of their stage of life. There is also a lack of awareness for conservative treatments such as pelvic floor physical therapy for these issues. Patients may fear surgery, medication, routine visits, and avoid talking about it all together. However, pelvic floor physical therapy for urinary incontinence can save patients time, money, and psychological distress. The numbers speak for themselves. Up to 45% of adults with bladder control problems fail to seek care.
Read more: Under the Radar: Physical Therapy for Urinary Incontinence...
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- Written by: Staff
- 4155 Views
Physical Therapy Can Mitigate the Effects of Cancer on Sexual Function
Sexuality can be a big part of who we are as individuals. Sexual function can be defined as “specific physical, physiological, neurological and emotional behaviors expressed by an individual response”.5 Sexual function and cancer can have an important and detrimental relationship. There are certain cancers that can unfortunately affect our sexual health, including cervical, ovarian, bladder, kidney, colorectal and breast cancer to name a few.
Some cancer treatments can cause unwanted side effects that affect our sexual health such as decreased sexual arousal or desire, vaginal stenosis (narrowing of the vaginal canal), dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse), and bladder/bowel dysfunction. This can affect our relationships with ourselves and with our partners, and reduce quality of life.
Read more: Sexual Function and Cancer: Include Physical Therapy in...
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- Written by: Staff
- 5189 Views
What Are Some of the Best Labor Positions For Vaginal Birth?
Read on to find out why not all labor positions are created equal
If you have been pregnant for many months now, it is most likely time to get ready for the upcoming birth! Similar to a marathon, we need to train for childbirth to prepare the muscles and body for the upcoming 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 first stage of labor involves contractions to dilate and open the cervix. Once the c
ervix 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 each stage and how to best support our bodies throughout the childbirth journey.
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- Written by: Staff
- 6781 Views
Learn About Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy as Treatment for Levator Ani Avulsion
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 walls with a bundle of collagen fibers called the levator arch, and attach to the ischial spines 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 can result in some perineal tearing and/or levator ani avulsion. Levator ani avulsion occurs when muscle fibers of the puborectalis (the most innermost muscle of the pubococcygeus group) are detached from its insertion on the pubic bone. About 20% of women experience an avulsion during their first vaginal childbirth. Risk factors include instrumental-assisted delivery (forceps higher risk than vacuum), older age at vaginal birth, second stage lasting longer than 2 hours, baby weighing over 8 pounds and 13 ounces, and those who underwent a grade 4 perineal tear.
Read more: Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy: Treatment for Levator Ani...
