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Femina Physical Therapy in the Media
Heather Jeffcoat, DPT and the team at Femina PT are routinely sought out by major online sources, print publications, and broadcast media for our knowledge of all things related to pelvic health. The recognition we have received as leading experts in our field has resulted in appearances on "Loveline with Mike and Dr. Drew" , US News & World Report, Huffington Post, ABC News, Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health, Bustle, "Sex With Emily" with Dr. Emily Morse, and in New York Magazine and Health Magazine, to name but a few. The demand for our expertise is greater than ever as more and more women seek to remedy the issues that we work with on a daily basis.
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
Front-To-Back Wiping Your Vagina: It's A Huge Conversation On TikTok Right Now
Here's Why And What An Expert Says
2022 New Year's Resolution: learn how to wipe.
Hello, people with vaginas. Now, some of you may or may not have been taught as little kids that — after using the restroom — you should always wipe from the front to the back. And, if you weren't taught it as a kid, then I am sure at some point in your adolescent or adult life, you have learned it.
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
Getting Down With the Pelvic Floor
—And Getting Serious About Caring for It.
Thanks to a series of norm-shattering cultural movements—beginning with #MeToo and body positivity and continuing with the pleasure revolution—elements of sexual and reproductive health are being discussed openly like never before. Add to this major societal shift a pandemic that turned our attention to physical well-being in new and sex-plorative ways, and the stage is set for the next show of taboo-busting: The pelvic floor, that sling of muscles running from the pubic bone to the tailbone, is finally getting the attention it deserves. And in 2022, we’ll see pelvic floor health incorporated more readily into at-home wellness and in-clinic health care at all stages of life.
Read more: Well and Good | We’re Getting Down With the Pelvic Floor
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
Foam Roller Exercises to Improve Mobility
Reduce inflammation and improve flexibility with these 8 exercises for women.
If you’ve never invested in a foam roller — commonly found at sporting goods stores for 20 to 40 bucks — you’re doing your muscles a major disservice. Regularly using a foam roller offers many of the same benefits as a sports massage, including reduced inflammation, scar tissue and joint stress, as well as improved circulation and improved flexibility.
Foam rolling helps with increasing muscle flexibility and joint range of motion, especially when used in conjunction with an active warm-up routine,”
says Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, certified facial stretch therapist and owner of Los Angeles–based Fusion Wellness & Physical Therapy.
Read more: Oxygen: 8 Foam-Roller Exercises to Improve Mobility
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
Experts Chime in on 7 Golden Rules for a Healthier Pee
They say another year older, another year wiser.
But when it comes to how to pee correctly, it seems we're all perpetual students of Water Closet 101. (Case in point: Every public bathroom, ever.) Over the years at Well+Good, we've collected an endless stream of tips for achieving what some call "the perfect pee"—and (you're welcome) we've finally collected them all in once place.
Below, you'll find the hottest advice from urologists and pelvic floor therapists nationwide about being number one at going (I hate myself) number one. You'll learn why you should stop power peeing, whether or not it's actually necessary to squat in public restrooms, and the truth about relieving yourself in the shower. Mentally prepare yourself, because there's sure to be some reality-shaking realizations ahead.
Read more: Well and Good | 7 Golden Rules for a Healthier Pee,...
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 1901 Views
Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
7 reasons why your vagina may feel too tight, and what you can do about it
Treatment for a vagina that feels tight may include pelvic floor physical therapy, hormone replacement therapy, or estrogen cream.
A vagina that feels tight can make it painful to insert anything from a tampon to a penis. Childbirth, yeast infections, and STIs are common causes of a tight vagina. Other causes include medical conditions like vaginismus, endometriosis, and menopause.
There are many different reasons why your vagina may feel too tight, resulting in pain while inserting a tampon or during sex. In fact, an estimated 75% of women experience pain during intercourse at some point in their lives.
Read more: Insider: 7 Reasons Why Your Vagina May Feel Too Tight
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
If Your Pelvic Floor Is Too Tight, There Are Answers
Even if you're familiar with the pelvic floor muscles, you might be surprised to know how important they are. The pelvic floor, which sits between the tailbone and pubic bone, resembles a hammock that supports your uterus (if you have one), bladder, and rectum, according to the Mayo Clinic. More specifically, the pelvic floor controls bladder and rectal urges, keeps your pelvic organs in place, assists sexual function, and helps support your core and spine, says Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, doctor of physical therapy, and owner of Femina Physical Therapy in Los Angeles. So when the pelvic floor muscles become too loose or too tight, it can have a significant impact on your daily life.
Read more: Well and Good: How to Tell If Your Pelvic Floor Is Too...
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
‘I’m a Pelvic-Floor Therapist, and This Is Why You Should Not Stop Your Flow Mid-Pee’
There's a strong chance someone in your life has either done or suggested Kegel exercises to you. You may have stumbled on Kegel advice through platforms like this TikTok. Or maybe you've googled Kegel exercises because you're dealing with bladder leakage. It can seem like Kegel exercise advice is everywhere, but there's a lot about this seemingly simple exercise that people do wrong. So, if you've heard you should do Kegels while peeing to assess your pelvic floor prowess, it is not the sagest advice.
Read more: Well and Good: You Should Not Stop Your Flow Mid-Pee
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
Sucking in your stomach all the time could be bad for your health
Sucking in your stomach and keeping your abdominal muscles too tense as you go about your day may seem innocuous, but experts say it’s a pervasive habit that can have physical and mental consequences over time.
Heather Jeffcoat is a keen observer of people.
I notice people,” said Jeffcoat, who ascribes her perceptive eye to her nearly two-decade career as a physical therapist. “I notice how people walk. I notice how people stand. I’ll just be like, ‘Oh, that person’s gripping their gluteal muscles, or that person looks like they’re gripping their abs.’ ”
The latter observation — a behavior some experts call “stomach gripping,” or what’s more widely known as sucking in your stomach — is one that Jeffcoat said she often sees among the patrons at her usual Starbucks, which is next to a spin studio in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Read more: Washington Post: Stop Sucking in Your Stomach All the Time
