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livestrongHeather Jeffcoat, DPT at Livestrong.com

More about Livestrong from their "About" page:

Our mission is to empower anyone at any age or stage in their fitness journey with the information and tools that will help them to make better choices – even just one small better choice can motivate them and improve their potential to truly thrive.

Livestrong | 6 Signs You Should See a Pelvic Floor Therapist

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Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Signs You Should See a Pelvic Floor Therapist
Image Credit: filadendron/E+/GettyImages
Livestrong writer Lacey Muinos was tasked with creating an article about the signs that you should see a pelvic floor therapist, and she came up with six of them. She came to me asking for my expert opinion, and here is a brief synopsis of the article, along with a link to the full article below.

Heather Jeffcoat, DPT

Should You See a Pelvic Floor Therapist? Six Signs Suggest So

One of the first things Lacey discovered is that within the wider field of physical therapy, pelvic floor therapy is still a somewhat unknown quantity:

When you think of pelvic floor therapy, you may think of Kegel exercises — which are basically a workout for your pelvic floor muscles — but there's a lot more to it than that. When these muscles aren't functioning properly (aka, pelvic floor dysfunction), a variety of symptoms can get in the way of your day-to-day activities. We spoke to pelvic floor physical therapists about the signs and symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction to look out for. If you experience any of these, it might be time to see a pelvic floor specialist.

Having realized the importance of pelvic health and the specialized training that is required to optimize it, Lacey came to me for some insights. 

Read more: Livestrong | 6 Signs You Should See a Pelvic Floor Therapist

Livestrong | Why Sex Can Be Painful After Menopause

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Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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image depicting why sex can be painful after menopause
Image Credit: Zinkevych/iStock/GettyImages
When Emilia Benton reached out to me for an article she was working on for Livestrong, her intent was to give a brief overview of why sex can be painful after menopause and the various treatment options being offered. Of course I was glad to put in my two cents for pelvic floor physical therapy as a big piece of the puzzle.

Heather Jeffcoat, DPT

Learn Why Sex Can Be Painful After Menopause - And What You Can Do About It

First we had the Baby Boom, and then the Menopause Boom. Since then we've learned a lot about what menopause is all about, but as happens with any time of change in our lives, there are still a number of questions to be answered. One of the more common ones concerns why sex can be painful after menopause.

Some of the answers to this question will be familiar to any woman who has experienced insufficient lubrication for any number of reasons, often to the point where they either cannot enjoy sex to the fullest - or cannot even do it at all due to the pain and discomfort. But during the fertile period of a woman's life, these issues can often be corrected depending on the cause.

Read more: Livestrong | Why Sex Can Be Painful After Menopause

Livestrong | 10 Diastasis Recti Exercises for Ab Muscle Separation

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Written by: Kasia Gondek, PT, DPT, CLT, CSCS
829 Views
diastasis recti exercises
Image Credit: FatCamera/E+/GettyImages
While researching this article about diastasis recti exercises, Livestrong author Amy Marturana Winderl, CPT reached out to me for some advice. Here is a brief synopsis of the article, with a link to the full article below.

Kasia Gondek, PT, DPT, CSCS

Do You Have Ab Muscle Separation? These 10 Diastasis Recti Exercises Can Help Fix It.

For how common it is, diastasis recti (DR) is a condition that's surprisingly misunderstood.

In short, DR is what it's called when your abdominal muscles separate — specifically, the two sides of your rectus abdominis (your "six-pack muscles"). Separated stomach muscles occur as a result of too much pressure inside the abdomen (intra-abdominal pressure). That's why it's extremely common during pregnancy.

Read more: Livestrong | 10 Diastasis Recti Exercises for Ab Muscle...

Livestrong | Should You Use a Squatty Potty When You Pee?

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Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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should you use a squatty potty
Using a squatty potty while peeing can help you fully empty your bladder. Image Credit: Mintra Kwthijak/iStock/GettyImages
Livestrong author Marygrace Taylor wanted to know "should you use a squatty potty when you pee?", and she reached out to me for some advice. Here is a brief synopsis of the article, with a link to the full article below.

Heather Jeffcoat, DPT 

Everyone Has to Pee... Should You Use a Squatty Potty?

A squatty potty or toilet stool can make it easier to have a bowel movement, particularly if you're dealing with constipation. But is it worth sitting on one just for peeing too?

The answer is yes.

A deep squat position or feet on a toilet stool is preferred for both urinating and bowel movements,"

says Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, owner of Femina Physical Therapy in Los Angeles and President of the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy.

Here's why it helps, and how to know if you need one.

Read more: Livestrong | Should You Use a Squatty Potty When You Pee?

Livestrong | 2 Tests to Help Determine if One Shoulder Is Stronger Than the Other (and 3 Exercises to Fix It)

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Written by: Kasia Gondek, PT, DPT, CLT, CSCS
2450 Views
2 Tests to Help Determine if One Shoulder Is Stronger Than the Other

In an ideal world, we would all have perfectly balanced strength and crush workouts left and right. But here in the real world, however, many people struggle with muscular imbalances that make certain movements extra challenging.

Shoulder imbalances are particularly prevalent, says Kasia Gondek, physical therapist and certified strength and conditioning specialist at Fusion Wellness and Physical Therapy. It's common — but not normal — for one shoulder to have less strength, activation or coordination than the other, Dr. Gondek says:

Read more: Livestrong | 2 Tests to Help Determine if One Shoulder Is...

The Best Pilates Reformers for Your Home Gym - Livestrong.com

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Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
2495 Views

Livestrong.com is a quite popular website that (in their own words) "provides the blueprint to simple healthy living". It was founded by world champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, and it covers a wide variety of topics that help people make better choices about their health and wellness.

While compiling information for the article linked below they reached out Heather Jeffcoat for her opinion on several topics, including the best options for Pilates reformers. To quote Heather:

Read more: The Best Pilates Reformers for Your Home Gym -...

Livestrong x Heather - The Best Sex Positions for Any Kind of Lover

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Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
5461 Views
Livestrong x Heather - The Best Sex Positions for Any Kind of Lover

The Best Sex Positions for Any Kind of Lover

The popular health website Livestrong reached out to Heather Jeffcoat for her expertise in overcoming sexual pain and discomfort due to vaginsmus and other diagnoses. Penned by none other than August McLaughlin of the popular Girl Boner Radio show, you can be sure that this read will be time well spent.

There is Poetry in Variety

McLaughlin begins with an analogous reference to the late William Cowper:

When poet William Cowper said, “Variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavor,” he may very well have been talking about the bedroom. A little (or a lot) of variety can make sex more fun and pleasurable, but when a physical condition makes certain positions challenging or painful, finding safe, creative alternatives is important.

August turns to Heather for some insight into what positions to avoid and (better yet) which ones to enjoy to not only minimize your pain but maximize your pleasure.

Read more: Livestrong x Heather - The Best Sex Positions for Any Kind...

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What Our Patients Say About Their Journey

Testimonial by Lauren B.

Femina PT (née Fusion Wellness & Physical Therapy) has been such an answer to prayer, i'm so glad I found them! I've been struggling with vaginismus my whole life, but didn't have a name for it until about 6 or 7 months ago. Even once I did have a name for it though, I didn't know where to begin in getting help. My OB/GYN had me get a set of dilators, but I couldn't even insert the smallest one by myself. Most times I tried I just ended up frustrated and in tears. I...

Testimonial by A.W., age 32

I wanted to let you know that my pelvic floor held strong and gave me no trouble whatsoever in my trail race this morning (12 miles)! In a way, I felt like I ran better than ever because my core feels so rock solid from all the exercises you have me doing. That was especially valuable on the technical downhill - I just flew down the trail because I had confidence in my balance and form. Thank you for helping me get back to doing what I love. -- A.W., age 32 (completed...

Testimonial by Fritzette H.

I went to Heather after the birth of my third child. It was lucky, really, that I was referred to her, because my doctor had referred me to a surgeon for a possible hysterectomy or pelvic wall rebuild. Thankfully, I went to Heather before undergoing either surgery, she was able to fix the problem. She has studied extensively in women's health--even written a book about it--and was able to diagnose my problem, suggest a course of treatment (6 weeks), and then follow...

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