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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
1201 Views
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
1835 Views
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
940 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
694 Views
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
2606 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...

Livestrong | The Best Pilates Reformers for Your Home Gym

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Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
2615 Views
The Best Pilates Reformers for Your Home Gym

Livestrong is a 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: Livestrong | 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
5588 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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Get The Book

Sex Without Pain: A Self-Treatment Guide To The Sex Life You Deserve

Haga clic aquí para la versión española Sex Without Pain: A Self-Treatment Guide To The Sex Life You Deserve was written by Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, a physical therapist with countless successes in treating pain of this type. Women with vaginismus, overactive pelvic floor, painful intercourse, vulvodynia, vulvar vestibulitis, vestibulodynia, dyspareunia, interstitial cystitis have all benefited from her unique program. Heather uses her orthopedic background to approach treatment of these muscles like they are....muscles! She utilizes a self-treatment tool called a dilator to provide massage and other muscle relaxation and stretching techniques in a gentle fashion to return a women's muscles back to a resting, rather than guarded, state.

• To order "Sex Without Pain" in paperback from Amazon for $24.99, click here.

• To order an electronic read-only non-printable PDF copy of the book for instant download at $19.99, use the button below:

• To schedule an appointment at one of the Femina PT offices, click here.

• For a list of other trusted health care providers, click here.

What Our Patients Say About Their Journey

Testimonial by R.S.

I wanted to thank you so much for helping me get through something I thought I may never be able to. We have achieved pain-free intercourse and this has really solidified our marriage. We are so grateful to you for all the work you do! Thank you!! -- R.S.

Kim M., Pelvic Pain

I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me. I could not have reached my goals without you. You gave me the courage to keep moving forward no matter how anxious I felt. You were always there to answer questions and make everything so much easier than I expected it to be.

Testimonial by Mary L.

I started seeing Heather to treat my Interstitial Cystitis in November 2016. At this time, I was extremely miserable, in constant pain, and felt as though no one was listening or understood what was going on with my body. I have just finished my last appointment and I can honestly say that my life has completely changed for the better because of Heather and her team of PTs! I live almost completely pain free, and when I do have flare ups, I am able to treat them at home...

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