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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:
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...
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!
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...
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 4163 Views
Period Action Day: Helping Provide Menstrual Products to Those in Need
Millions of women across the United States are suffering the consequesces of not being able to afford period products. We believe that menstrual hygeine is a matter of human rights, not a prividlege.
Read more: Period Action Day - October 8, 2022 - Get Involved Now!
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 5937 Views
What is Endometriosis and Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a benign condition where endometrial tissue (the lining of the inside of the uterus) grows outside of the uterus.
About 5-10% of reproductive aged persons with female-associated genitalia have endometriosis. Symptoms can range from no symptoms to debilitating pelvic pain with dysmenorrhea, pain with periods, abdominal pain, genital pain, bladder dysfunction, bowel dysfunction and other chronic overlapping pain conditions. In addition, endometriosis is known to also affect sexual quality of life. Pain with sex is called dyspareunia; while deep infiltrating endometriosis is a more severe form of endometriosis.
Read more: The Link Between Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis and...
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- Written by: Staff
- 5434 Views
Are You Thinking of Working with a Doula?
Here are some of the benefits
Being a pelvic floor physical therapist, I work with pregnant and postpartum women almost daily. Not having birthed any children yet and currently pregnant, I was curious about the doula process both professionally and personally. So, I attended a wonderful birth doula training program and learned a ton about what working with a doula is all about.
Read more: Blog: Working with a Doula | The Benefits of a Birthing...
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 4918 Views
Are There Non-Surgical Treatments for Pelvic Organ Prolapse?
That constant heavy feeling in your pelvic area. That embarrassing urine leakage. That bulge ‘down there’.
It took a while, but you found the courage to talk to your doctor about your symptoms. (Good for you!) Now you know your condition has a name – pelvic organ prolapse – and a treatment. But is surgery really the best option?
Research estimates that 50% of all women who give birth will develop pelvic organ prolapse at some point in life; but while pregnancy and childbirth top the list of risk factors, the condition usually develops over time from a combination of factors that can also include anything from frequent strenuous gym workouts to smoking to menopause (and even genetics).
Read more: POP-tions: Two Non-Surgical Treatments For Pelvic Organ...
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 5890 Views
The medical community has a new acronym for painful sex - GPPD
New data on self-compassion and emotion regulation that many women who suffer from it may never have considered.
First, let’s take a look at that new name - genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPPD). That’s a medical mouthful, I know; but it’s actually a helpful attempt to simplify diagnosis by combining two similar disorders under one treatment heading. Dyspareunia is pain with sexual activity; vaginismus is the involuntary contraction of muscles in the pelvic floor that often cause that pain. GPPD recognizes them as essentially the same problem – recurrent or persistent pain in the genital area associated with intercourse. And it’s a common one; the study I’m reviewing in this article says,
Sexual pain is among the most common complaints in women who seek for help in clinical settings.”
Read more: Painful Sex aka GPPD – A Little (Self) Compassion Can Go A...
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 4663 Views
What are Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Urinary Incontinence?
What is the biggest risk factor for both conditions? And how can you tell if you have them?
Not sure? You’re not alone. In fact, one research study found women actually know more about erectile dysfunction than they do about pelvic organ prolapse! While pharmaceutical company advertising bias may be to blame for part of that equation, one of the largest surveys of pregnant women and new moms ever conducted on the subject (by a team of medical experts in New England) reveals women’s healthcare providers consistently miss their biggest window of opportunity to educate patients about these conditions and offer treatment strategies that work.
Read more: POP Quiz About Two Common Postpartum Conditions - Pelvic...
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- Written by: Staff
- 7087 Views
Did You Know That There Are Non-Surgical Treatments for Provoked Vulvodynia (PVD)?
Provoked Vulvodynia affects approximately 10% of women
PVD is known as a chronic overlapping pain condition with endometriosis... While there are pharmacologic and surgical options, there are also other more conservative non-surgical treatments for provoked vulvodynia.
Provoked vulvodynia (PVD) is a chronic pain condition characterized by pain in the vulva when provoked by touch such as a tampon, speculum, clothing and/or sexual penetration. This condition affects approximately 10% in young women and can be truly debilitating. The etiology of PVD is complex and includes a combination of biologic and psychological factors. Other factors that may contribute to PVD are neural proliferation (an increase in nerve endings in the area), pelvic floor dysfunction, hormonal imbalances, recurrent infections, inflammation, high urinary oxalate levels and other psychological factors.
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- Written by: Staff
- 4947 Views
May is Osteoporosis Awareness Month.
Did you know that Physical Therapists are an essential member of your interdisciplinary care team?
With life expectancy increasing it is becoming more evident that bone health and fall prevention are key to a good quality of life. Osteoporosis is defined as a decrease in bone mass or a change in the structure of the bone causing the bone to be more fragile.1 If the bone is weak there is a higher chance of a fracture (bone break). The most common areas of fractures are the hip, spine, forearm, and humerus (upper arm bone). Osteoporosis causes more than 8.9 million fractures annually worldwide, affecting predominantly postmenopausal women. The probability of women, at menopause, of having an osteoporotic fracture exceeds that of breast cancer and the likelihood of a fracture is approximately 40%.2
Read more: Osteoporosis Awareness Month: Bone Health and Prevention
