This is a special installment of the Femina Physical Therapy Newsletter - April 8, 2020
We are excited to announce new weekly online Zoom yoga classes with Nancy Wong starting tomorrow. We hope to see you there!
And be sure to scroll down and learn more about how Heather Jeffcoat and her team are continually working to improve everyone's sex lives, reproductive health, and general wellbeing.
Thanks for reading, and remember - we're here to help!
Discover the Ways Urinary Incontinence and Weight Are Linked
Today, let's delve into the intricacies of bladder leakage, commonly known as urinary incontinence (UI)
Balancing health and weight involves various factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic, making it a complex aspect of well-being. As a pivotal metric for assessing health, weight is not only a symptom but can also act as a causative factor for various health conditions.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2023, a staggering 41.9% of adults in the U.S. are affected by obesity, accounting for $173 billion in annual healthcare costs. While the implications of being overweight on cardiovascular and mental health are widely known, we explore whether it can also impact pelvic floor health, especially in the context of urinary incontinence.
Did You Know That Proper Footwear Can Improve Your Running Mechanics and Pelvic Floor Health?
How Do My Feet Impact My Pelvic Floor When I Run?
If you are a runner, you tend to look for ways to improve your running. If you’re thinking about starting up or returning to running, it can feel intimidating particularly if you have any symptoms related to pelvic floor dysfunction. This only complicates an exercise that, on the surface, seems fairly straight forward. There are some studies that have looked at how your feet can play a part in your pelvic floor muscle function while you run. And if you are looking to return to running postpartum, read on and also check out this article by one of our pelvic floor physical therapists.
Orthopedic Clinical Specialist/Pelvic Health Physical Therapist
Once the exciting news of a new pregnancy is shared, it is common to get flooded with misinformation and “advice” from concerned family members regarding the safety of exercise during their pregnancy. Historically, it is common for people to be told to “take it easy” during their pregnancy or spend more time in bed. What we know is that exercise during pregnancy is safe and beneficial for both birthing parent and baby.
ACOG Updated Guidelines on Exercise During Pregnancy
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) in 2020 released updated guidelines regarding exercise in pregnancy which states that “exercise is both safe and desirable for birthing people in the absence of obstetric or medical complications or contraindications.” Not only is regular exercise safe for most pregnancies, exercising has immense physical and mental health benefits for not only the birthing person, but for the growing fetus as well. Birthing people who engage in regular exercise during their pregnancies have been shown to have decreased rates of gestational diabetes, hypertension, cesarean births, operative vaginal births and postpartum recovery time. It can also be preventative for the development of depressive disorders in the postpartum period.
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 Post-partum Renewal Program using the InTone biofeedback/stim unit)
Testimonial by J.H.
My last appointment with Heather was over 6 years ago but I still think of her every day. I don’t take for granted that I can easily get out of bed, care for my two active and busy young boys, run, play tennis, clean my house, or sit at a desk for several hours at a time. None of these tasks were easy for me before meeting Heather. Eight years ago my car was struck from behind by a tractor trailer that was estimated to have been speeding. I spent 3 years working with different PTs and Drs trying to heal and move on with my life. When I became pregnant and the hormone relaxin that “relaxes” all the joints of the body and the additional weight gain erased all my progress and I was suddenly in a lot of pain again. My OB sent me to Heather for one last try.
"I had a severe tear during childbirth that was not stitched together correctly and therefore healed poorly. Even after having a surgery a year later to remove the scar tissue, I was still having pain, and no one could explain why -- there was no overt 'reason' to explain the pain. I had tried other 'specialists' and even saw another physical therapist who had me do hip / leg stretches -- what a joke! I was about to give up and just 'live with it' until thankfully I kept searching online and found Heather.
Heather is the best! I saw her today for terrible hip/groin pain. I was so impressed with the safety measures in place and felt completely safe . Thanks for the healing hands.
S.S., age 54
Testimonial by S.H., age 24
I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me for the past 19 months. I literally could not have reached my goals without you and your practice. You gave me the courage to keep moving forth with my treatment no matter how afraid and anxious I was. You were always there to answer questions and made this whole process so much easier than I expected it to be.
It's because of you that my marriage is on the right track, that I can get pregnant and that this part of my life is finally over. I really feel that Fusion Wellness is a team of people you can call family and are there to root for you and cheer you on until you reach your goals. There is nothing better than knowing I accomplished this with you guys by my side and as calmly and patiently as I needed. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for always being there and helping me reach my goals.
S.H., age 24
Testimonial by M.N., age 28
A personal journey and testimonial from one of my patients:
I was diagnosed with vaginismus 4 years ago. I never heard of such medical condition until after I got married. At first my husband and I didn't know what to do, we didn't know what the issues were or how to overcome it. Being born and raised in Armenia and being Christian I wasn't that open about talking to sex with others and so it wasn't easy to seek help. But eventually I went to an Ob-Gyn and luckily she knew about the medical condition (not many doctors know). She referred me to a physical therapist and I couldn't believe it and thought it's something I can handle myself. I ordered a kit from vaginismus.com and started practicing with dilators. There was some small progress but wasn't much helpful.
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