By Melissa Patrick, PT, DPT and Jennifer Keesee, DPT In part I of this blog post, we covered the basics of proper breathing mechanics and how important they can be for your pelvic health. We introduced pranayama, yoga based breathing exercises, and discussed the benefits of regular breath practice. We also talked about diaphragmatic breathing, its impact on the nervous …
Connective Tissue Restrictions: Causes, Consequences and Treatments
By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles Connective tissue (CT) restrictions are defined as a dense thickening of subcutaneous tissue that’s painful upon pinch-rolling examination. Connective tissue restrictions can contribute to urinary and bowel symptoms and pelvic pain. As this post will explain, CT restrictions can be a cause and consequence of multiple pelvic floor symptoms and syndromes. …
2022, Year of the Tiger; A Year in Review
By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles Welcome 2022, goodbye 2021! It’s been another year full of changes for Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center. With the start of the new year, we would like to acknowledge all of the changes that have occurred both virtually and in person. Last year….. Social Media Expansion and Engagement With our ever …
Announcing Virtual Pregnancy + Postpartum Pelvic Health Services
By Molly Bachmann PT, DPT, PHRC San Francisco Virtual appointments are now available for those who are pregnant and postpartum! We are excited to offer this service to birthing people around the world. Whether you are pregnant and are interested in learning more about how to prepare your body for birth or need help developing a birth plan and …
A Peripartum Product Guide for Pregnant Friends by a Pelvic Floor PT
What does a Pelvic Floor Physical and Occupational Therapists gift her pregnant friends at their baby showers? By Molly Bachmann PT, DPT, PHRC San Francisco Working in the medical field places one in a unique position when it comes to relationships with family and friends. Frequently I’ll receive questions about aches and pains, emails asking for advice, etc. …
How pelvic floor physical and occupational therapy helps men with pelvic pain
By Elizabeth Akincilar, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Lexington In the past, when most folks in the medical community thought about pelvic pain, the assumption often was that it was due to pregnancy or labor and delivery, or something related to a woman’s menstrual cycle or reproductive organs. Thankfully, the medical community has come a long way. Within the community of medical …
PHRC is accepting new patients in Pasadena, California!
By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, PHRC West Los Angeles The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center is excited to announce that we are now accepting new patients in our newest location in Pasadena! Let’s be real, Los Angeles traffic is no joke. Since we opened in West LA in 2014 we have been honored to help patients from all over the greater …
Good News! Interstitial Cystitis is treatable! A Much Needed Q&A
By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, PHRC West Los Angeles What is Interstitial Cystitis? IC is a pelvic pain syndrome characterized by irritated bladder symptoms. This condition is associated with painful sex, pelvic floor dysfunction, vestibulodynia, endometriosis, and gut dysbiosis. What are the symptoms? Symptoms include bladder pain, urinary urgency, urinary frequency, pain worsened with bladder filling, nocturia, and dysuria. The …
Male Urinary Dysfunction; Kevin’s Bladder Success Story
By Tiffany Yuen, DPT, PHRC Los Gatos The History of Kevin’s Symptoms and How He Found PHRC “Tiffany did an excellent job helping to loosen the muscles in my pelvic area; I experienced minimal discomfort during our sessions but saw marked improvement in urgency and frequency as long as I showed up and did the basic exercises she prescribed …
ICYMI: IG Live with Sexual Medicine Expert Rachel Rubin
By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, PHRC Los Angeles A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Rachel Rubin on Instagram Live. I wanted to interview Rachel because of her unique background as a board-certified female urologist who completed a sexual medicine fellowship with Dr. Irwin Goldstein. Dr. Rubin is a clinician, a researcher, and a vocal educator …
Dear Doctor, Your Patients are Human; An Open Letter
By Emily Schwerdtfeger, PHRC Westlake Village Admin Assistant A patient submitted this letter following their personal experience with patient care An open letter to any doctor who’s ever seen a patient. To patients who have experienced something similar, I’m sorry and you didn’t deserve it. “I understand that doctors have limited time with patients and that medicine is …
Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: Symptoms and Solutions
By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, PHRC Los Angeles Did you know that the term Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) was introduced as recently as 2014? What!? Women have been going through menopause as long as we have been on the planet. Why are we talking about it? Because too many women are currently suffering with treatable symptoms because of conflicting & …
Perimenopause Facts: It Starts Earlier than You Think
By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC West Los Angeles Perimenopause begins earlier than you think! Most people in their 20’s and 30’s may not think they need to know about perimenopause & that perimenopause information doesn’t apply to them. This is not true! Here are just a few of the many things you need to know. Testosterone Decline: …
Meditation & Yoga for Pelvic Pain Relief [Videos Links Included]
By admin Wondering what you can do besides pelvic floor physical and occupational therapy for your pelvic pain? This week we compiled the yoga sessions our PT, Melissa Patrick, has been hosting on our Instagram. Find the best yoga session for you based on the pelvic pain you are experiencing directly below its description. Yoga for Pudendal Neuralgia …
Penile Pain- A Success Story
By Molly Bachmann PT, DPT, PHRC San Francisco “Penile numbness, perineum pain, post void dribble . . . oh my!” *All names and other identifying information has been changed. Symptom Presentation: Frank began to have pain in his perineum seemingly out of the blue. The only connection he could make was an instance of loose stool that …
SIBO Updates plus follow up Q&A
Let’s talk SIBO SIBO stands for Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth; bacteria that is an overgrowth of the normal bacteria in your small intestine. How to test for it:⠀ A breath test is typically used either in the clinic or a take-home test is given. The test uses a solution, glucose or lactulose (but usually lactulose), that is consumed and …
World Physical and Occupational Therapy Day- A Q&A about Pelvic Floor PTs
September 8th is World Physical and Occupational Therapy Day! To celebrate, we wanted to do a little Q&A about pelvic floor physical and occupational therapy and what it’s like to be a pelvic floor physical and occupational therapists! What is pelvic floor physical and occupational therapy? In a nutshell pelvic floor physical and occupational therapy (PFPT) is …
How Pelvic Floor PT Helps Children with Constipation & Incontinence
By Shannon Pacella, DPT, PHRC Lexington Did You Know… Bedwetting affects 15%-22% of children, and of those children, 10%-25% have urinary leakage during the day.1 One of the primary causes of bedwetting and daytime wetting is constipation.1 10%-25% of children who bed wet also have difficulty controlling their bowels.1 Awareness of bladder sensation and control of bladder begins between one …
Pediatric Success Story: Constipation interrupting your kids’ activities?
By Melinda Fontaine, DPT, PHRC Walnut Creek Symptoms Many families struggle with constipation in children. Maya is a 10 year old who likes to swim, camp, and play with her little brother. She had suffered with constipation and fecal incontinence most of her life. A year ago, an x-ray showed that she had an enlarged colon from chronic constipation, and …
Can TMS help people with Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome?
By Jason J. Kutch, PhD and Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, PHRC West Los Angeles Interstitial Cystitis/ Bladder Pain Syndrome (BPS) is a pelvic pain syndrome that is characterized by urgency/frequency and pelvic pain, affecting up to 7.9 million vagina owners and roughly 10% of penis owners in the United States. It is a clinical diagnosis, meaning that there are no diagnostic …
Symptoms of a Hypertonic Pelvic Floor Follow Up Q&A
By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC West Los Angeles A while back we asked you for your questions about having a hypertonic pelvic floor. This week we answer all your questions and then some! Q- Hi! I have really tight pelvic floor muscles and pain during sex and I was wondering if you might be able to suggest any …